Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an epidemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2). Populations at risk as well as those who can develop serious complications are people with chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and the elderly. Severe symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection are associated with immune failure and dysfunction. The approach of strengthening immunity may be the right choice in order to save lives. This review aimed to provide an overview of current information revealing the importance of bee products in strengthening the immune system against COVID-19. We highlighted the immunomodulatory and the antiviral effects of zinc and polyphenols, which may actively contribute to improving symptoms and preventing complications caused by COVID-19 and can counteract viral infections. Thus, this review will pave the way for conducting advanced experimental research to evaluate zinc and polyphenols-rich bee products to prevent and reduce the severity of COVID-19 symptoms.
Highlights
Signaling pathway is one of them; it was found that zinc shown that zinc can reduce the replication of the hepatitis C virus (HCV), and enhances the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PRAR-α) and supplementation may improve hepatitis in people with HCV infection
In a monocentric, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial conducted by Esposito et al [66], the results showed that the patients who suffered from symptoms of mild upper-respiratory tract infection recovered after five days of oral spray supplementation of a polyphenol mixture extracted from poplar-type propolis
The results showed that four compounds had a strong binding affinity with a good glide score and may inhibit the COVID-19 Mpro and replication of the virus [202]
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Extract of standardized Brazilian green propolis, EPP-AF® combined with standard care (azithromycin, chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine, oseltamivir, corticosteroids) were used for hospitalized COVID-19 patients in a trial registered under the number NCT04480593 [15]. The outcomes of these studies revealed that combining these natural products with standard care procedures has resulted in clinical benefits for hospitalized COVID-19 patients in comparison to the patients who only received standard care, such as the reduction in hospital stay length. We suggest that bee products especially their richness in zinc and phenolic compounds may be a beneficial way to strengthen immunity and to protect against the virus SARS-CoV-2
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