Phyto‐pharmacological perspective of Silymarin: A potential prophylactic or therapeutic agent for COVID‐19, based on its promising immunomodulatory, anti‐coagulant and anti‐viral property

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) triggered by a new viral pathogen, named severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), is now a global health emergency. This debilitating viral pandemic not only paralyzed the normal daily life of the global community but also spread rapidly via global travel. To date there are no effective vaccines or specific treatments against this highly contagious virus; therefore, there is an urgent need to advocate novel prophylactic or therapeutic interventions for COVID‐19. This brief opinion critically discusses the potential of Silymarin, a flavonolignan with diverse pharmacological activity having antiinflammatory, antioxidant, antiplatelet, and antiviral properties, with versatile immune‐cytokine regulatory functions, that able to bind with transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) and induce endogenous antiviral cytokine interferon‐stimulated gene 15, for the management of COVID‐19. Silymarin inhibits the expression of host cell surface receptor TMPRSS2 with a docking binding energy corresponding to −1,350.61 kcal/mol and a full fitness score of −8.11. The binding affinity of silymarin with an impressive virtual score exhibits significant potential to interfere with SARS‐CoV‐2 replication. We propose in‐depth pre‐clinical and clinical review studies of silymarin for the development of anti‐COVID‐19 lead, based on its clinical manifestations of COVID‐19 and multifaceted bioactivities.

Therapeutic and prophylactic effect of flavonoids inpost‐COVID‐19 therapy

“…Because of multisystemic disease COVID‐19, many studies have been published confirming the anti‐SARS‐CoV‐19 effect of flavonoids (Palit, Mukhopadhyay, & Chattopadhyay, 2021 ; Santana et al, 2021 ).…”

Phytocompounds and COVID‐19: Two years of knowledge

“…Emerging data suggest polyphenols as potential immunomodulatory and/or antiviral agents against COVID‐19. The present virtual issue contains review addressing the potential of flavonoids, curcumin, resveratrol and silibinin in attenuating lung injury and cytokine storm associated with the disease (Derosa et al, 2021 ; Di Petrillo, Orrù, Fais, & Fantini, 2021 ; El‐Missiry, Fekri, Kesar, & Othman, 2021 ; Gour, Manhas, Bag, Gorain, & Nandi, 2021 ; Khezri, Saeedi, Mohammadamini, & Zakaryaei, 2021 ; Palit, Mukhopadhyay, & Chattopadhyay, 2021 ; Pawar & Pal, 2020 ; Santana et al, 2021 ). Studies on specific polyphenols showed that (a) kaempferol inhibited the SARS‐CoV‐2 main protease (3CLpro) (Khan et al, 2021 ), (b) oroxylin suppressed the entrance of the SARS‐CoV‐2‐spiked pseudotyped virus into ACE2 cells (Gao et al, 2021 ), (c) resveratrol inhibited the replication of SARS‐CoV‐2 in cultured Vero cells (M. Yang et al, 2021 ) and (d) silibinin interacted with SARS‐CoV‐2 main target proteins (e.g., spike protein RBD and Mpro residues) (Speciale et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Finally, other review articles highlighted traditional herbs or phytochemicals for the management of cardiovascular sign and symptoms(Mohammadi Pour, Farzaei, Soleiman Dehkordi, Bishayee, & Asgary, 2021) or to overcome stress, anxiety and improve mental health associated with COVID-19(Shahrajabian, Sun, Soleymani, & Cheng, 2021).3 | POLYPHENOLSEmerging data suggest polyphenols as potential immunomodulatory and/or antiviral agents against COVID-19. The present virtual issue contains review addressing the potential of flavonoids, curcumin, resveratrol and silibinin in attenuating lung injury and cytokine storm associated with the disease(Derosa et al, 2021;Di Petrillo, Orrù, Fais, & Fantini, 2021;El-Missiry, Fekri, Kesar, & Othman, 2021;Gour, Manhas, Bag, Gorain, & Nandi, 2021;Khezri, Saeedi, Mohammadamini, & Zakaryaei, 2021;Palit, Mukhopadhyay, & Chattopadhyay, 2021;Pawar & Pal, 2020;Santana et al, 2021).…”

COVID‐19 and varicocele: The possible overlap factors and the common therapeutic approaches

“…In addition, glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities were significantly lower among the COVID-19 patients than in the control group. 132 Literature reviews suggested that some antioxidant like melatonin, 133 zinc, 134 vitamin C, 135 glutathione, 136 L-carnitine, 137 honey, 138 selenium, 130 silymarin, 139 astaxanthin, 140 quercetin, 141 and pentoxifylline 142 may provide beneficial and supportive treatments against COVID-19 infection by anti-apoptotic, anti-viral, and anti-inflammatory properties.…”