Title:Natural Products Homoharringtonine and Emetine Alkaloids as SARS-CoV-2 Treatment Options
Volume: 27
Issue: 32
Author(s): Sayed S. Sohrab*, Mohd Suhail, Mohammad A. Kamal and Esam I. Azhar
Affiliation:
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80216, Jeddah 21589,Saudi Arabia
Keywords:
Coronaviruses, SARS-CoV-2, natural products, alkaloids, antivirals, COVID-19.
Abstract:
Background: Viruses are known as the major causative agents for infectious diseases globally. The
coronaviruses are one of the serious pathogens to cause serious diseases in humans. Recently identified SARSCoV-
2 from Wuhan City, China, has emerged as a serious threat to human health and caused a global pandemic.
Bats have been confirmed as a primary source of infection. The vaccination of the human population and animals
serving as a potential reservoir is a straightforward strategy to control the transmission of any pathogen to
humans. Natural products from many herbal plants are well known to have novel antiviral properties and evaluated
against various viral diseases. There are many alkaloids that have shown to be effective against coronaviruses.
Methods: Recently, the antiviral efficacy of natural alkaloids known as Homoharringtonine (HTT) and Emetine
has been evaluated and provided promising results against coronaviruses, including SARS-CoVs. These alkaloids
may be very useful and can be used as antivirals against SARS-CoV-2 because they have already been reported
to inhibit the replication of SASRS-CoV and other viruses in cell lines.
Conclusion: This review specifically focuses on the recent findings of these alkaloids against coronaviruses
and possible treatment options for SARS-CoV-2. It is expected that natural products as alkaloids from herbal
plants could be considered as novel and valuable candidates for the new antiviral drugs against SARS-CoV-2.
