Natural compounds as heme oxygenase-1 inducers to reduce the deleterious consequences following SARS-CoV-2 infection

Abstract

The virus SARS-CoV-2 (Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) causes COVID 19 (COronaVIrus Disease 19), a global pandemic with multi-organ failure and resulting in high morbidity and mortality. Some individuals are more vulnerable than others and have deleterious consequences following covid- 19. It has been postulated that Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) reduction and free heme may contribute to many of the inflammatory phenomena observed in COVID-19 patients. Therefore, HO-1 inducers could prove to be potential therapeutic or preventive agents for COVID 19. Many of the natural compounds present in fruits and vegetables, such as polyphenols, resulted able to induce HO-1. Aim of this review is to focus on the main foods containing bioactive compounds able to induce HO-1 for an informed choice of foods to use to counteract damage from SARS-CoV-2 infection.