Login Register Cart 0
Generic placeholder image

Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1871-5265
ISSN (Online): 2212-3989

Back
Journal Home About Journal Editorial Board Journal Insight Current Issue Volumes/Issues
Subscribe
Review Article

A Short Review on Key Role of Plants and their Extracts in Boosting up Immune Response to Combat COVID-19

Author(s): Mudassir Khan, Muhammad Abu Bakar Saddique, Huzaifa Tahir, Muhammad Dawood Amjad, Abdullah Ahmad, Usama Masood and Dilawar Khan*

Volume 22, Issue 1, 2022

Published on: 27 May, 2021

Article ID: e270521193625 Pages: 8

DOI: 10.2174/1871526521666210527091939

Price: $65

Abstract

In the wake of the recent global pandemic of COVID-19, there has been increasing concern among the general public to improve their immune system. The causative agent of COVID-19 is SARS CoV-2, similar to its relative viruses SARS Cov-1 and MERS. Although vaccines have been developed now and are in public use, still the role of a healthy immune system is crucial as new strains of the virus are being discovered and along with emergence of new strains, short and long term side effects of vaccine cannot be excluded. Plants have been used in herbal medicines and many chemicals since ancient times and extracts in them are found to boost the immune system. Therefore, a consciously maintained diet consisting of plant-based immunity boosters is the need of the hour. Plants are known to provide many chemicals, natural therapeutics and vitamins which naturally enhance our immune system. Recently, vaccination research is also being carried out in transgenic plants. In this review, main focus has been put on highlighting some of the key players within the Kingdom Plantae, which, when taken up in regular diet, can significantly boost our immune system capacity and thus helps the human body to combat this deadly virus more efficiently.

Keywords: Coronavirus, plants, immune response, COVID-19, SARS-Cov-2, MERS.

Graphical Abstract

[1]
Wu F, Zhao S, Yu B. A new coronavirus associated with human respiratory disease in China. Nature 2020; 579: 265-9.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2008-3]
[2]
Huang C, Wang Y, Li X, et al. Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China. Lancet 2020; 395(10223): 497-506.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30183-5] [PMID: 31986264]
[3]
Craig WJ. Nutrition concerns and health effects of vegetarian diets. Nutr Clin Pract 2010; 25(6): 613-20.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0884533610385707] [PMID: 21139125]
[4]
Berenbaum F, van den Berg WB. Inflammation in osteoarthritis: Changing views. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2015; 23(11): 1823-4.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2015.09.012] [PMID: 26521727]
[5]
Rinninella E, Raoul P, Cintoni M, et al. What is the healthy gut microbiota composition? A changing ecosystem across age, environment, diet, and diseases. Microorganisms 2019; 7(1): 14.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms7010014] [PMID: 30634578]
[6]
Alwarawrah Y, Kiernan K, MacIver NJ. Changes in nutritional status impact immune cell metabolism and function. Front Immunol 2018; 9: 1055.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2018.01055] [PMID: 29868016]
[7]
Eichelmann F, Schwingshackl L, Fedirko V, Aleksandrova K. Effect of plant‐based diets on obesity‐related inflammatory profiles: a systematic review and meta‐analysis of intervention trials. obesity reviews 2016; 17(11): 1067-79.
[8]
Nussbaum C, Gloning A, Pruenster M, et al. Neutrophil and endothelial adhesive function during human fetal ontogeny. J Leukoc Biol 2013; 93(2): 175-84.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1189/jlb.0912468] [PMID: 23233729]
[9]
Filias A, Theodorou GL, Mouzopoulou S, Varvarigou AA, Mantagos S, Karakantza M. Phagocytic ability of neutrophils and monocytes in neonates. BMC Pediatr 2011; 11(1): 29.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2431-11-29] [PMID: 21492472]
[10]
Willems F, Vollstedt S, Suter M. Phenotype and function of neonatal DC. Eur J Immunol 2009; 39(1): 26-35.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/eji.200838391] [PMID: 19137537]
[11]
De Wit D, Tonon S, Olislagers V, et al. Impaired responses to toll-like receptor 4 and toll-like receptor 3 ligands in human cord blood. J Autoimmun 2003; 21(3): 277-81.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaut.2003.08.003] [PMID: 14599853]
[12]
De Kleer I, Willems F, Lambrecht B, Goriely S. Ontogeny of myeloid cells. Front Immunol 2014; 5: 423.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2014.00423] [PMID: 25232355]
[13]
Schüller SS, Sadeghi K, Wisgrill L, et al. Preterm neonates display altered plasmacytoid dendritic cell function and morphology. J Leukoc Biol 2013; 93(5): 781-8.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1189/jlb.1011525] [PMID: 23401600]
[14]
Yen-Chang L, Lin SJ. Neonatal Natural Killer Cell Function: Relevance to Antiviral Immune Defense. J Immunol Res 2013; 2013.
[15]
Maródi L. Innate cellular immune responses in newborns. Clinical immunology 2006; 118(2-3): 137-44.
[16]
Zlotoff DA, Schwarz BA, Bhandoola A. The long road to the thymus: the generation, mobilization, and circulation of T-cell progenitors in mouse and man..In: Semin Immunopathol. Springer-Verlag 2008; 30: pp. (4)371-82..
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00281-008-0133-4] [PMID: 18925398]
[17]
Mold JE, Venkatasubrahmanyam S, Burt TD, et al. Fetal and adult hematopoietic stem cells give rise to distinct T cell lineages in humans. Science 2010; 330(6011): 1695-9.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1196509] [PMID: 21164017]
[18]
Takahata Y, Nomura A, Takada H, et al. CD25+CD4+ T cells in human cord blood: an immunoregulatory subset with naive phenotype and specific expression of forkhead box p3 (Foxp3) gene. Exp Hematol 2004; 32(7): 622-9.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.exphem.2004.03.012] [PMID: 15246158]
[19]
Burlingham WJ, Grailer AP, Heisey DM, et al. The effect of tolerance to noninherited maternal HLA antigens on the survival of renal transplants from sibling donors. N Engl J Med 1998; 339(23): 1657-64.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1056/NEJM199812033392302] [PMID: 9834302]
[20]
Holt PG. The role of genetic and environmental factors in the development of T-cell mediated allergic disease in early life. Paediatr Respir Rev 2004; 5(Suppl. A): S27-30.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1526-0542(04)90006-1] [PMID: 14980239]
[21]
Hebel K, Weinert S, Kuropka B, et al. CD4+ T cells from human neonates and infants are poised spontaneously to run a nonclassical IL-4 program. J Immunol 2014; 192(11): 5160-70.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4049/jimmunol.1302539] [PMID: 24778440]
[22]
Sanz E, Muñoz-A N, Monserrat J, et al. Ordering human CD34+CD10-CD19+ pre/pro-B-cell and CD19-common lymphoid progenitor stages in two pro-B-cell development pathways. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2010; 107(13): 5925-30.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0907942107] [PMID: 20231472]
[23]
Griffin DO, Holodick NE, Rothstein TL. Human B1 cells are CD3-: A reply to “A human equivalent of mouse B-1 cells?” and “The nature of circulating CD27+CD43+ B cells”. J Exp Med 2011; 208(13): 2566-9.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1084/jem.20111761] [PMID: 22184682]
[24]
Hannet I, Erkeller-Yuksel F, Lydyard P, Deneys V, DeBruyère M. Developmental and maturational changes in human blood lymphocyte subpopulations Immunol Today 1992; 13(6): 215-218, 218..
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0167-5699(92)90157-3] [PMID: 1627249]
[25]
Maguire G. Physiological renormalization using systems therapeutics. 1st ed. Jenny Stanford Publishing 2019.
[26]
King JS. Mechanical stress meets autophagy: potential implications for physiology and pathology. Trends Mol Med 2012; 18(10): 583-8.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.molmed.2012.08.002] [PMID: 22981844]
[27]
Gamboa-León MR, Aranda-González I, Mut-Martín M, García-Miss MR, Dumonteil E. In vivo and in vitro control of Leishmania mexicana due to garlic-induced NO production. Scand J Immunol 2007; 66(5): 508-14.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3083.2007.02000.x] [PMID: 17953527]
[28]
Wilson EA, Demmig‐Adams B. Antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties of garlic and onionsNutr Food Sci 2007 Available at https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/00346650710749071/full/html?journalCode=nfs
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/00346650710749071]
[29]
Bhattacharyya M, Girish GV, Karmohapatra SK, Samad SA, Sinha AK. Systemic production of IFN-α by garlic (Allium sativum) in humans. J Interferon Cytokine Res 2007; 27(5): 377-82.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/jir.2006.0124] [PMID: 17523869]
[30]
Kim JY, Kwon O. Garlic intake and cancer risk: an analysis using the Food and Drug Administration’s evidence-based review system for the scientific evaluation of health claims. Am J Clin Nutr 2009; 89(1): 257-64.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.2008.26142] [PMID: 19056580]
[31]
Charron CS, Dawson HD, Albaugh GP, et al. A single meal containing raw, crushed garlic influences expression of immunity-and cancer-related genes in whole blood of humans. J Nutr 2015; 145(11): 2448-55.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3945/jn.115.215392] [PMID: 26423732]
[32]
Tattelman E. Health effects of garlic. Am Fam Physician 2005; 72(1): 103-6.
[PMID: 16035690]
[33]
Kannappan R, Gupta SC, Kim JH, Reuter S, Aggarwal BB. Neuroprotection by spice-derived nutraceuticals: You are what you eat! Mol Neurobiol 2011; 44(2): 142-59.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12035-011-8168-2] [PMID: 21360003]
[34]
Shim S, Kim S, Choi DS, Kwon YB, Kwon J. Anti-inflammatory effects of [6]-shogaol: potential roles of HDAC inhibition and HSP70 induction. Food Chem Toxicol 2011; 49(11): 2734-40.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2011.08.012] [PMID: 21864631]
[35]
Podlogar JA, Verspohl EJ. Antiinflammatory effects of ginger and some of its components in human bronchial epithelial (BEAS-2B) cells. Phytother Res 2012; 26(3): 333-6.
[PMID: 21698672]
[36]
Funk JL, Frye JB, Oyarzo JN, Timmermann BN. Comparative effects of two gingerol-containing Zingiber officinale extracts on experimental rheumatoid arthritis. J Nat Prod 2009; 72(3): 403-7.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/np8006183] [PMID: 19216559]
[37]
Chen BH, Wu PY, Chen KM, Fu TF, Wang HM, Chen CY. Antiallergic potential on RBL-2H3 cells of some phenolic constituents of Zingiber officinale (ginger). J Nat Prod 2009; 72(5): 950-3.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/np800555y] [PMID: 19271742]
[38]
Sabina EP, Rasool M, Mathew L. EzilRani P, Indu H. 6-Shogaol inhibits monosodium urate crystal-induced inflammation–An in vivo and in vitro study. Food Chem Toxicol 2010; 48(1): 229-35.
[39]
Atta AH, Elkoly TA, Mouneir SM, Kamel G, Alwabel NA, Zaher S. Hepatoprotective effect of methanol extracts of Zingiber officinale and Cichorium intybus. Indian J Pharm Sci 2010; 72(5): 564-70.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/0250-474X.78521] [PMID: 21694986]
[40]
Nwaopara AO, Odike MAC, Inegbenebor U, Adoye MI. The combined effects of excessive consumption of ginger, clove, red pepper and black pepper on the histology of the liver. Pak J Nutr 2007; 6(6): 524-7.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3923/pjn.2007.524.527]
[41]
Truchliński J, Krauze M, Cendrowska-Pinkosz M, Modzelewska-Banachiewicz B. Influence of garlic, synthetic 1,2,4-triasole derivative and herbal preparation echinovit C on selected indices of turkey-hens non-specific immunity. Pol J Vet Sci 2006; 9(1): 51-5.
[PMID: 16573275]
[42]
Skinner MA. Wellness foods based on the health benefits of fruit: gold kiwifruit for immune support and reducing symptoms of colds and influenza. Yao Wu Shi Pin Fen Xi 2012; 20: 261-4.
[43]
Ernst E. The risk-benefit profile of commonly used herbal therapies: Ginkgo, St. John’s Wort, Ginseng, Echinacea, Saw Palmetto, and Kava. Ann Intern Med 2002; 136(1): 42-53.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-136-1-200201010-00010] [PMID: 11777363]
[44]
Salem ML, Alenzi FQ, Attia WY. Thymoquinone, the active ingredient of Nigella sativa seeds, enhances survival and activity of antigen-specific CD8-positive T cells in vitro. Br J Biomed Sci 2011; 68(3): 131-7.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09674845.2011.11730340] [PMID: 21950205]
[45]
Ozugurlu F, Sahin S, Idiz N, et al. The effect of Nigella sativa oil against experimental allergic encephalomyelitis via nitric oxide and other oxidative stress parameters. Cell Mol Biol 2005; 51(3): 337-42.
[PMID: 16191402]
[46]
Butt MS, Sultan MT. Nigella sativa: Reduces the risk of various maladies. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2010; 50(7): 654-65.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10408390902768797] [PMID: 20694927]
[47]
Brush J, Mendenhall E, Guggenheim A, et al. The effect of Echinacea purpurea, Astragalus membranaceus and Glycyrrhiza glabra on CD69 expression and immune cell activation in humans. Phytother Res 2006; 20(8): 687-95.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ptr.1938] [PMID: 16807880]
[48]
Kalus U, Pruss A, Bystron J, et al. Effect of Nigella sativa (black seed) on subjective feeling in patients with allergic diseases. Phytother Res 2003; 17(10): 1209-14.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ptr.1356] [PMID: 14669258]
[49]
Ibrahim KS, El-Sayed EM. Potential role of nutrients on immunity. Int Food Res J 2016; 23(2): 464-74.
[50]
Maggini S, Wintergerst ES, Beveridge S, Hornig DH. Selected vitamins and trace elements support immune function by strengthening epithelial barriers and cellular and humoral immune responses. Br J Nutr 2007; 98(S1)(Suppl. 1): S29-35.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0007114507832971] [PMID: 17922955]
[51]
Noreen S, Rizwan B. Mudassir Khan* and Sana Farooq, “Health benefits of Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum), potential remedy for diseases, rare to cancer: A mini Review. Infect Disord Drug Targets 2020; 20: 1.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1871526520999201224122605]
[52]
Mora JR, Iwata M, von Andrian UH. Vitamin effects on the immune system: Vitamins A and D take centre stage. Nat Rev Immunol 2008; 8(9): 685-98.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nri2378] [PMID: 19172691]
[53]
Comerford KB. Recent developments in multivitamin/mineral research. Adv Nutr 2013; 4(6): 644-56.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3945/an.113.004523] [PMID: 24228193]
[54]
Mubarik F, Noreen S, Farooq F, Siddiqa A, Khan M. A Review on pharmacological and nutritional benefits of mango (Mangifera indica Linn): A remedy for cancer, diabetes and gastrointestinal infections. Abasyn J Life Scie 2020; 3(2): 82-92.
[55]
Din M, Ali H, Khan M, et al. Impact of COVID-19 on polio vaccination in Pakistan: A concise overview. Rev Med Virol 2020.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/rmv.2190] [PMID: 33176028]
[56]
Miyamoto E, Yabuta Y, Kwak CS, Enomoto T, Watanabe F. Characterization of vitamin B12 compounds from Korean purple laver (Porphyra sp.) products. J Agric Food Chem 2009; 57(7): 2793-6.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jf803755s] [PMID: 19256490]
[57]
Miyamoto E, Kittaka-Katsura H, Adachi S, Watanabe F. Assay of vitamin B12 in edible bamboo shoots. Vitamins 2005; 79: 329-32.
[58]
Shamim AA, Mawla MG, Islam Z. Palmyra palm-an under-exploited carotene-rich source. Sight and Life 2003; pp. 21-4.
[59]
Gilbert C. What is vitamin A and why do we need it? Community Eye Health 2013; 26(84): 65.
[PMID: 24782580]
[60]
DellaPenna D. A decade of progress in understanding vitamin E synthesis in plants. J Plant Physiol 2005; 162(7): 729-37.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jplph.2005.04.004] [PMID: 16008096]
[61]
Omotosho I. Plant sources of vitamin D and its medicinal application in sub-sahara Africa Fads and facts about vitamin D. IntechOpen 2019.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.81851]
[62]
Manzotti P, De Nisi P, Zocchi G. Vitamin K in plants. Funct Plant Sci Biotechnol 2008; 2: 29-35.
[63]
Hiatt A, Cafferkey R, Bowdish K. Production of antibodies in transgenic plants. Nature 1989; 342(6245): 76-8.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/342076a0] [PMID: 2509938]
[64]
Conrad U, Fiedler U. Compartment-specific accumulation of recombinant immunoglobulins in plant cells: An essential tool for antibody production and immunomodulation of physiological functions and pathogen activity. Plant Mol Biol 1998; 38(1-2): 101-9.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1006029617949] [PMID: 9738962]
[65]
Gavilondo JV, Larrick JW. Antibody engineering at the millennium. Biotechniques 2000; 29(1): 128-132, 134-136, 138 passim.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.2144/00291ov01] [PMID: 10907088]
[66]
Torres E, Vaquero C, Nicholson L, et al. Rice cell culture as an alternative production system for functional diagnostic and therapeutic antibodies. Transgenic Res 1999; 8(6): 441-9.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1008969031219] [PMID: 10767987]
[67]
De Jaeger G, De Wilde C, Eeckhout D, Fiers E, Depicker A. The plantibody approach: expression of antibody genes in plants to modulate plant metabolism or to obtain pathogen resistance. Plant Mol Biol 2000; 43(4): 419-28.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1006471528756] [PMID: 11052194]
[68]
Khan M, Zaman G, Jalil F, Rauf H, Gohar S. Review on antimicrobial applications of silver nanoparticles and use of plant extracts for its synthesis. Int J Biosci 2018; 12(5): 240-8.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.12692/ijb/12.5.240-248]
[69]
Scheibner V. Vaccination: 100 years of orthodox research shows that vaccines represent a medical assault on the immune system. 1993.
[70]
Haq TA, Mason HS, Clements JD, Arntzen CJ. Oral immunization with a recombinant bacterial antigen produced in transgenic plants. Science 1995; 268(5211): 714-6.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.7732379] [PMID: 7732379]
[71]
Mason HS, Lam DM, Arntzen CJ. Expression of hepatitis B surface antigen in transgenic plants. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1992; 89(24): 11745-9.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.89.24.11745] [PMID: 1465391]
[72]
Gómez N, Carrillo C, Salinas J, Parra F, Borca MV, Escribano JM. Expression of immunogenic glycoprotein S polypeptides from transmissible gastroenteritis coronavirus in transgenic plants. Virology 1998; 249(2): 352-8.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/viro.1998.9315] [PMID: 9791026]
[73]
Mason HS, Haq TA, Clements JD, Arntzen CJ. Edible vaccine protects mice against Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin (LT): Potatoes expressing a synthetic LT-B gene. Vaccine 1998; 16(13): 1336-43.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0264-410X(98)80020-0] [PMID: 9682399]
[74]
Tacket CO, Mason HS, Losonsky G, Estes MK, Levine MM, Arntzen CJ. Human immune responses to a novel norwalk virus vaccine delivered in transgenic potatoes. J Infect Dis 2000; 182(1): 302-5.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/315653] [PMID: 10882612]

Rights & Permissions Print Cite
Article Metrics
14
1
© 2024 Bentham Science Publishers | Privacy Policy