Review: Lactoferrin a natural glycoprotein as antiviral agent

Abstract

Lactoferrin is a great multifunctional natural glycoprotein, it is distributed widely in various tissues especially in exocrine glands. It is abundant in exocrine fluids such as breast milk and colostrum, in mucosal secretions, and in secondary granules of neutrophils. Lactoferrin have many physiological functions, it enhances and strengths the immune system of the body by sequestering iron and prevent pathogenic bacteria and viruses from using iron for their growth and replication, also it competes bacteria and viruses on the binding receptor sites of host cells. The low death rate of infants and children during COVID-19 pandemic is revealed to the antiviral activity of lactoferrin and other bioactive components. Lactation of infants from breast milk for two years will increase immune response against bacteria and viruses.