Utilization of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds in managing SARS-CoV-2 infection to achieve healthy community: A review

Abstract

The COVID-19 outbreak has struck the world and has led to mortalities worldwide. On top of that, cancer diseases are the other major cause of death globally. Scientists around the globe are racing to find possible therapeutic compounds that could alleviate or manage these diseases. Searching for the potential compounds to be utilised as a treatment for SARS-CoV-2 infection and immunotherapies for cancer is in line with achieving a healthy community. The healthy community concept aims to reduce health gaps regardless of the status quo within a community. In making this concept a success, the ability to recover from health disasters such as cancer and the COVID-19 outbreak is one of the indicators. It could be achieved when humans are supplemented with proper nutrients to help manage these diseases. Studies have suggested that compounds exhibiting anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties could help to reduce the inflammation caused by the SARS-CoV-2 infection while enhancing the immune system to address cancer diseases. The current work will review the anti-inflammatory properties of astaxanthin, tocotrienols and tocopherols, plus the beta-carotene and fucoxanthin's antioxidant properties. The potential of the studied compounds to be utilised as cancer immunotherapies will be further evaluated, as these compounds have also been reported to exhibit anti-cancer properties. The findings of this study will indicate the potential of these five compounds in managing SARS-CoV-2 infection and act as cancer immunotherapies in achieving a healthy community.