Curcumin: From Ancient Spice to Modern Anti-Viral Drug in COVID-19 Pandemic

A viral disease such as COVID-19 (Corona Virus Disease-2019) is a major health problem and worsens the complications of various diseases including cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes, and cancers. The current study summarises the therapeutic progress and efficacy of curcumin for the cure and prevention of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and SARS-related COVID-19. Curcumin is extracted from the herb Curcuma longa L., known for its various therapeutic functions such as anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity and anti- cancer activities. Very little is known about its therapeutic importance for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 infections and complications. Curcumin has the ability to interact with spike protein or ACE2 protein in COVID-19-induced signal transduction pathway. Curcumin also suppresses several important signaling pathways in viral infection such as the well-known transcription factors including NF-kB, STAT-3, Wnt/β-catenin, Nrf2, p38/MAPK. Curcumin inhibit virus-induced inflammation by modulating the manifestation of various factors such as IL-10, IL-8, IL-6, TNF-α/β, and COX-2 in COVID-19 diseases. The modulation of multiple molecular targets by treatment with curcumin and anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin make it an ideal candidate phytochemical for the treatment of SARS and SARS-related COVID-19.