4.3.2.3. In Vivo and clinical studies
The anti-SARS-CoV2 phytocompounds which are presently under in
vivo and clinical studies are very few because it is a costly and
time-consuming process. Adding to the difficulty is that the virus is
continuously mutating making it harder to find an all-encompassing
antiviral phytocompound. However, few phytocompounds are being
clinically studied for their efficiency as anti-SARS-Cov-2 drugs. Anin vivo study to test the anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity ofAgrimonia Pilosa ethanol extract (APEE) in a mice model showed
that APEE exhibited potent antiviral activity with an
IC50 of 1.1 µg/ml. In addition, extensive biological
assays demonstrated that APEE was able to induce a significant reduction
in inflammation, apoptosis markers, oxidative stress, and TLR-4
(Toll-Like Receptor 4) expression, along with reducing histopathological
abnormalities, highlighting APEE as a potential candidate for further
clinical studies. Figure 6 shows the process involved invivo validation of identified lead compounds in a mouse model.
Resveratrol is one of the phytocompound that has made it to clinical
trials. In its proposed phase 2 study, it was found that the severity of
COVID-19 can be reduced using Resveratrol-assisted zinc therapy.
Chlorogenic acid is another phytocompound that has successfully reached
clinical trials. In its phase 2 studies, an Açaí Berry extract which
contains Chlorogenic acid was administered to COVID-19 patients as a
dietary supplement, following which the patients experienced a reduction
of inflammation of lungs and improved disease outcome. The general
procedure through which the efficiency and adverse effects of the
identified drug molecule are evaluated through clinical trials in humans
is summarized in Figure 7. The studies discussed here show that
phytocompounds are gaining major attention for the treatment of COVID-19
as they possess important biological properties that are crucial to
fight viral infection. Moreover, we suggest that, if the search for
anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs shifts a little more towards extensive
pre-clinical and clinical studies on prospective phytocompounds, then
these phytocompounds can easily replace the chemical drugs in the near
future.