Abstract
In this perspective, we propose to leverage reactive oxygen species (ROS) induction as a potential therapeutic measure against viral infections. Our rationale for targeting RNA viral infections by pro-oxidants is routed on the mechanistic hypothesis that ROS based treatment paradigm could impair RNA integrity faster than the other macromolecules. Though antiviral drugs with antioxidant properties confer potential abilities for preventing viral entry, those with pro-oxidant properties could induce the degradation of nascent viral RNA within the host cells, as RNAs are highly prone to ROS mediated degradation than DNA/proteins. We have previously established that Plumbagin is a highly potent ROS inducer, which acts through shifting of the host redox potential. Besides, it has been reported that Plumbagin treatment has the potential for interrupting viral RNA replication within the host cells. Since the on-going Corona Virus Disease – 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic mediated by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) exhibits high infectivity, the development of appropriate antiviral therapeutic strategies remains to be an urgent unmet race against time. Therefore, additional experimental validation is warranted to determine the appropriateness of repurposable drug candidates, possibly ROS inducers, for fighting the pandemic which could lead to saving many lives from being lost to COVID-19.
Keywords: COVID-19; Plumbagin; RNA degradation; ROS inducers; SARS-CoV-2.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Plumbagin, RNA degradation, ROS inducers, 【초록키워드】 Treatment, SARS-CoV-2, viral infection, Corona virus, pandemic, Antiviral, antiviral drugs, oxygen, antioxidant, viral entry, viral infections, RNAs, antiviral drug, RNA, Replication, global pandemic, Severe acute respiratory syndrome, Viral, Corona, therapeutic, ROS, Viral RNA, Degradation, respiratory, therapeutic strategy, reactive oxygen species, macromolecules, Plumbagin, RNA degradation, Hypothesis, Severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus-2, lead, Virus Disease, host cells, Virus Disease -, redox potential, drug candidates, Perspective, experimental validation, inducer, Host, oxidants, shifting, reported, determine, faster, induce, exhibit, impair, reactive oxygen specy, 【제목키워드】 viral infection, Viral, ROS, inducer, implication,