Potential use of Citrus essential oils against acute respiratory syndrome caused by coronavirus

ABSTRACT

The treatments being investigated for the pandemic associated with a severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV2) aim to inhibit viral replication or inhibit enzymatic elastase in the lung, responsible for the SARS-CoV cell entry mechanism and the pathogenesis of severe pneumonia caused by infection. There is also a need to improve alveolar surfactant capacity and inhibition of the exacerbated inflammatory response. Current knowledge allows us to infer that Citrus essential oils could be considered an individual or a complementary highly valuable alternative for the viral infection caused by SARS-CoV due to its antiviral activity, particularly against coronavirus, anti-elastase, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antibiofilm properties. Furthermore, its proven capacity of biosurfactants, antioxidants, and pain inhibitors would help to treat acute respiratory syndrome. This review aims to encourage the development of more detailed studies on Citrus essential oils as a new multi-objective strategy to treat SARS-CoV2 infection.

Abbreviations: SARS-CoV: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus; GRAS: Generally Recognized as Safe; TRP: Transient Receptor Proteins; HeLa-CEACAM1a: HeLa-epithelial carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1a; HSV: Herpes Simplex Virus; FDA: Food and Drug Administration; ANMAT: National Administration of Medicines, Food and Medical Technology, Argentina; AFSSAPS: Agence Française de Sécurité Sanitaire des Produits de Santé, France; ACE2:Angiotensin-converting enzyme-2

KEYWORDS:

• Citrus essential oils
• antiviral
• elastase inhibition
• anti-inflammatory
• antioxidant
• biosurfactant
• coronavirus

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the financial support from the SCAIT-UNT (PIUNT D26/638-1), the Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Técnica ANPCyT (PICT 02071 and 02514), and The Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, CONICET (PIP 662). The authors want to thank Lourdes A. Arena for the language review.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas [PIP 662]; MINCYT [02071,02514]; Universidad Nacional de Tucumán [D26/638-1].