What are the results of recent research on resveratrol and covid-19?
Introduction
This post highlights the results of recent research on resveratrol and covid-19. [Updated on 10/26/2022].
After almost three years since the first case was reported, covid-19 (coronavirus disease of 2019) remains to be deadly. It is highly contagious and undergoes high mutation rate. Patients of higher age or with pre-existing health conditions (immune deficiency, diabetes, obesity, hypertension, cardiac and respiratory diseases) still have high mortality rate due to septic shock and multi-organ failure. Many will die of respiratory failure due to destruction of lung tissues. Although current Omicron variants are less fatal, the pandemic will not end any time soon. Survivors of mild covid may have lingering symptoms (“long covid”). Besides annual booster vaccination, other measures need to be taken to ensure ones safety.
Viral infection and immune response
Invading viruses induce production of oxygen free radicals (ROS) in infected lung cells, leading to cell death and release of virions. ROS also triggers antiviral immune response involving cytokines (peptides released from white blood cells to activate more white blood cells in the infected tissues). Overly activated immune response will result in overproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines, leading to cytokine dysregulation (cytokine storm). As a result, the body attacks its own tissues and not just the invading viruses, leading to multi-organ failure. Besides the lungs, other vital organs, such as heart, kidneys, and blood vessels, are also affected. Therefore, antioxidant supplements may be beneficial to covid-19 patients by preventing cytokine storm through mitigation of excessive ROS. For background information of free radicals and health benefits of antioxidants, please go to this page.
Resveratrol is the best antioxidant for covid-19
Among the antioxidant supplements available, resveratrol is the best. Resveratrol is a polyphenolic antioxidant present in peanuts, skin of red grapes, berries and red wines. Commercial supplement may be extracted from an Asian plant called Polygonum cuspidatum. It is a strong scavenger of free radicals and can also induce activities of numerous antioxidant enzymes. In addition, it also has anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-coagulating properties. This makes it the best supplement for prevention and treatment of covid-19.
Anti-viral properties of resveratrol
Research using cell culture showed that resveratrol can inhibit infection of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes covid-19. The virus enters the lung cells by binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). ACE2 is a cell-surface protein and serves as a receptor for the virus. The spike protein of the virus has high affinity for the ACE2. Recent study shows that resveratrol can disrupt the binding of the viral spike protein and ACE2. Therefore, resveratrol inhibits virus from entering cells. Furthermore, resveratrol inhibits viral replication by suppressing the synthesis of its protein coat, and reduces cell death caused by the virus. Moreover, resveratrol improves autophagy of infected cells, a process that increases clearance of virus. Another study shows that resveratrol significantly increases ACE2 gene expression. This study also shows that upregulation of ACE2 has a protective role against SARS-Cov-2 pathogenesis. Exact mechanism is currently unknown.
Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of resveratrol
Besides its antiviral activities, resveratrol helps mitigate the excessive oxygen free radicals caused by viral infection. In addition, it activates genes of enzymes that generate endogenous antioxidants to protect cells from oxidative stress. Furthermore, it inhibits production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Together, it calms the cytokine storm and relieves the hyper-inflammation state.
Other beneficial properties of resveratrol
Some mild covid patients develop abnormal blood clotting in arteries and veins after recovery. The blood clotting increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney failure and symptoms associated with “long covid”. Resveratrol can prevent the onset of blood clotting events by inhibiting platelets aggregation and the coagulation cascade. It will be safer than the blood thinning drugs that have side effect of bleeding.
Conclusion
Even resveratrol may not be a silver bullet for covid-19, it will certainly improve the outcome of the covid-19 patients by protecting their lungs and other vital organs. Aging folks tend to be antioxidant-deficient. Resveratrol supplement may be the key for survival. Younger folks can often recover from the infection, but they may suffer long lasting damage of the lungs and other organs (“long covid”). Resveratrol may be beneficial to them as well. Resveratrol is relatively nontoxic, and has many other health benefits. It will be a good supplement to help maintain ones good health.
Although resveratrol is promising, it should not be used a substitute of covid-19 vaccine. Instead, resveratrol supplement serves as an extra layer of protection. Not all brands of resveratrol on the market are equally good as they are claimed to be. High quality resveratrol supplement can be obtained from this website.
References:
- Horne JR, Vohl MC.Biological plausibility for interactions between dietary fat, resveratrol, ACE2, and SARS-CoV illness severity. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 318:E830-E833, 2020.
- Wahedi HM, Ahmad S, Abbasi SW. Stilbene-based natural compounds as promising drug candidates against COVID-19. J Biomol Struct Dyn. 12:1-10, 2020.
- Yang M, Wei J, Huang T, Lei L, Shen C, Lai J, Yang M, Liu L, Yang Y, Liu G, Liu Y. Resveratrol inhibits the replication of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in cultured Vero cells. Phytother Res. 22:10.1002/ptr.6916, 2020
- Domi E, Hoxha M, Kolovani E, Tricarico D, Zappacosta B. The Importance of Nutraceuticals in COVID-19: What’s the Role of Resveratrol? Molecules 27:2376, 2022.
