Case series of 22 hospitalized COVID-19 patients showing that a combination of quercetin 800mg, bromelain 165mg, zinc acetate 50mg and vitamin C 1g daily for 3-5 days was safe when given with other treatments.
Authors include In Silico molecular docking analysis showing that the natural compounds quercetin and bromelain bind strongly to the active site of human cathepsin L protein, indicating they may act as inhibitors. Quercetin exhibited a binding energy of -5.15 kcal/mol with 5 hydrogen bonds and 1 pi-interaction. Bromelain had a binding energy of -5.65 kcal/mol with 7 hydrogen bonds. As human cathepsin L is involved in inflammatory pathways, the results suggest quercetin and bromelain could potentially help prevent COVID-19 progression to severe inflammation and cytokine storm.
Bioavailability. Quercetin has low bioavailability and studies typically use advanced formulations to improve bioavailability which may be required to reach therapeutic concentrations.
68 preclinical studies support the efficacy of quercetin for COVID-19:
In Silico studies predict inhibition of SARS-CoV-2, or minimization of side effects, with quercetin or metabolites via binding to the spikeA,6,7,19,21,22,27,35,36,38,39,59,60, MproB,4,6,8,10,12,14,15,17,20,21,27,31,33-35,39,40,42,60,61, RNA-dependent RNA polymeraseC,6,29, PLproD,34,42, ACE2E,19,20,25,34,38,60, TMPRSS2F,19, helicaseG,26,31, endoribonucleaseH,36, NSP16/10I,3, cathepsin LJ,23, Wnt-3K,19, FZDL,19, LRP6M,19, ezrinN,37, ADRPO,35, NRP1P,38, EP300Q,13, PTGS2R,20, HSP90AA1S,13,20, matrix metalloproteinase 9T,28, IL-6U,18,32, IL-10V,18, VEGFAW,32, and RELAX,32 proteins.
In Vitro studies demonstrate inhibition of the MproB,12,43,48,56 protein, and inhibition of spike-ACE2 interactionY,44.
In Vitro studies demonstrate efficacy in Calu-3Z,47, A549AA,18, HEK293-ACE2+AB,55, Huh-7AC,22, Caco-2AD,46, Vero E6AE,16,39,46, mTECAF,49, and RAW264.7AG,49 cells.
Animal studies demonstrate efficacy in K18-hACE2 miceAH,52, db/db miceAI,49,58, BALB/c miceAJ,57, and rats62.
Quercetin reduced proinflammatory cytokines and protected lung and kidney tissue against LPS-induced damage in mice57, inhibits LPS-induced cytokine storm by modulating key inflammatory and antioxidant pathways in macrophages2, and inhibits SARS-CoV-2 ORF3a ion channel activity, which contributes to viral pathogenicity and cytotoxicity51.
Ahmed et al., 6 Oct 2023, Saudi Arabia, peer-reviewed, mean age 49.3, 6 authors, study period June 2020 - September 2020, trial NCT04468139(history).
Contact: drmedahmed@gmail.com.
{ 'indexed': { 'date-parts': [[2023, 12, 31]],
'date-time': '2023-12-31T00:28:40Z',
'timestamp': 1703982520565},
'reference-count': 0,
'publisher': None,
'issue': '2',
'content-domain': {'domain': [], 'crossmark-restriction': False},
'abstract': '<jats:p>Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a new strain '
'of coronavirus. There are three phases of COVID-19: early infection stage, pulmonary stage '
'and hyper-inflammation stage respectively. It is important to prevent lung or other organs '
'injuries by preventing phase-II and phase-III via pharmacological or non-pharmacological '
'treatments. This was a case series study done on twenty-two patients confirmed to be infected '
'with SARS-CoV-2 and diagnosed with COVID-19. Patients in this study have been used quercetin '
'800 mg, bromelain 165 mg, zinc acetate 50 mg and ascorbic acid 1 g once daily as supplements '
'for 3 to 5 days during SARS-CoV-2 infection. The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety '
'and efficacy of quercetin, bromelain, zinc and ascorbic acid combination supplements on '
'patients with COVID-19. The mean levels of WBC, ANC, ALC, AMC and AST were normal among all '
'included patients before and after taking quercetin, bromelain, zinc and ascorbic acid '
'supplements (P-value >0.05). Quercetin 800 mg, bromelain 165 mg, zinc acetate 50 mg and '
'ascorbic acid 1 g once daily supplements were safe for patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 and '
'may prevent poor prognosis. Randomized clinical trials needed in the future to ensure the '
'efficacy of quercetin, bromelain, zinc and vitamin C combination.</jats:p>',
'DOI': '10.61797/ijdm.v2i2.259',
'type': 'journal-article',
'created': { 'date-parts': [[2023, 12, 30]],
'date-time': '2023-12-30T14:56:19Z',
'timestamp': 1703948179000},
'page': '29-37',
'source': 'Crossref',
'is-referenced-by-count': 0,
'title': 'Evaluation of the Effect of Zinc, Quercetin, Bromelain and Vitamin C on COVID-19 Patients',
'prefix': '10.61797',
'volume': '2',
'author': [ {'given': 'Amr', 'family': 'Ahmed', 'sequence': 'first', 'affiliation': []},
{'given': 'Heba', 'family': 'Abdelseed', 'sequence': 'additional', 'affiliation': []},
{'given': 'Hassan', 'family': 'Shora', 'sequence': 'additional', 'affiliation': []},
{'given': 'Yousef', 'family': 'Albalawi', 'sequence': 'additional', 'affiliation': []},
{'given': 'Eman', 'family': 'Aslsalameen', 'sequence': 'additional', 'affiliation': []},
{'given': 'Abdullah', 'family': 'Alkattan', 'sequence': 'additional', 'affiliation': []}],
'member': None,
'published-online': {'date-parts': [[2023, 12, 30]]},
'container-title': 'International Journal of Diabetes Management',
'original-title': [],
'deposited': { 'date-parts': [[2023, 12, 30]],
'date-time': '2023-12-30T14:56:19Z',
'timestamp': 1703948179000},
'score': 1,
'resource': {'primary': {'URL': 'https://researchlakejournals.com/index.php/IJDM/article/view/259'}},
'subtitle': [],
'short-title': [],
'issued': {'date-parts': [[2023, 12, 30]]},
'references-count': 0,
'journal-issue': {'issue': '2', 'published-online': {'date-parts': [[2023, 12, 30]]}},
'URL': 'http://dx.doi.org/10.61797/ijdm.v2i2.259',
'relation': {},
'ISSN': ['2564-324X'],
'container-title-short': 'Int J Diabetes Manag',
'published': {'date-parts': [[2023, 12, 30]]}}
Late treatment is less effective
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