Novel sulphated polysaccharides from marine macroalgae as potential and natural antiviral agents against SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

Global pandemic diseases are not new to the existing world; however, the modern age is to be ready to defend the present and future pandemic existence. Bacterial pandemic diseases are the most exacerbating cause of people’s death, comparatively than viral pandemic diseases up to the 19th century. An intriguing discovery of ‘antibiotics’ in the 20th century have almost eradicated the bacterial pandemic diseases and which is still under control by finding new age antibiotics. Henceforth, such an alternative solution for viral pandemic disease is still lacking and as a result, viral pandemics are invading the modern era. The COVID-19 is also one among the viral pandemic disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus. It is most successful than SARS-CoV, caused SARS outbreak in 2002-2003; due to spike glycoprotein, which plays a most important role in tropism and transmission of this disease to global pandemic. The mechanism of spike glycoprotein is similar with that of the class I type of viral fusion protein, necessary for viral-host internalization and infection. Intriguingly, the sulphated polysaccharides derived from marine macroalgae are the most successful neutralizing agents of class I type of viral fusion glycoprotein and prevent viral infection. This was proven from several in vitro and in vivo studies, which are tabulated as a compendium in this study. Therefore, these sulphated polysaccharides would be an alternative solution for the control of viral pandemic diseases in the modern era, as how the discovery of antibiotics eradicated bacterial pandemic diseases.