Prospective options of algae-derived nutraceuticals as supplements to combat COVID-19 and human coronavirus diseases

• Published in: Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.) Los Angeles County, Calif.), 2021-03, Vol.83, p.111089-111089, Article 111089
• Main Authors: Ratha, Sachitra K., Renuka, Nirmal, Rawat, Ismail, Bux, Faizal
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptive immunity; Algae; Anemia; Angiotensin; Animals; Antigens; Antiviral; Antiviral agents; Antiviral drugs; Bioactive compounds; Biological Products - pharmacology; Biological Products - therapeutic use; Biomass; Blood; Calcium; Calcium sulfate; Coronaviridae; Coronavirus; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - drug therapy; Cytokines; Dietary Supplements; Disease control; Disease prevention; Enzymes; Functional foods & nutraceuticals; Hemoglobin; Human subjects; Humans; Immune system; Immune-booster; Immunity; Immunologic Factors - pharmacology; Immunologic Factors - therapeutic use; Infections; Innate immunity; Liver; Nutraceuticals; Older people; Pathogens; Pattern recognition; Peptides; Peptidyl-dipeptidase A; Phycobiliproteins; Polysaccharides; Proteins; Respiratory diseases; Review; Saccharides; SARS-CoV-2 - drug effects; Severe acute respiratory syndrome; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Spirulina; Spirulina - chemistry; Vaccines; Viral diseases; Viral infections
• ISSN: 0899-9007; 1873-1244
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2020.111089

The outbreak of the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 that has created huge trepidation worldwide, has a mortality rate of 0.5% to 1% and is growing incessantly. There are currently no therapies and/or vaccines that may help abate this viral disease, but the use of masks and social distancing can limit the spread. Boosting immunity has been a simple way to resist viral infection and limit fatalities. In this context, the use of nutraceuticals appears to be a potential panacea. The ability of algae-based nutraceuticals, mainly Spirulina, to boost immunity against viral diseases has already been reported clinically. Spirulina-based nutraceuticals boost the adaptive and innate immunity, and bioactive compounds, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor peptides, phycobiliproteins, sulfated polysaccharides, and calcium-Spirulan, can serve as antiviral agents. The presence of these molecules indicates its potential role in resisting infection and COVID-19 disease progression. This review focuses on the potential role of algal nutraceuticals as immune boosters to combat the human coronavirus and other viral diseases. The potential use of Spirulina-based nutraceuticals for combating COVID-19, its mechanism, and future directions have also been discussed. •Spirulina-derived bioactive compounds possess antioxidant, antiinflammatory, immunostimulatory, and immunomodulatory properties•Natural antioxidants, antiviral compounds, and angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors from Spirulina indicated their potential role as an immune potentiator and therapeutic agent•This review postulates the potential role of Spirulina-based nutraceuticals in combating coronavirus diseases