Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is currently a pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). COVID-19 are directly associated with hyper-activation of innate immune response that excessively produce pro-inflammatory cytokines and induce cytokine storm, leading to multi-organ-failure and significant morbidity/mortality. Currently, several antiviral drugs such as Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir and ritonavir) and molnupiravir are authorized to treat mild to moderate COVID-19, however, there are still no drugs that can specifically fight against challenges of SARS-CoV-2 variants. Panax ginseng, a medicinal plant widely used for treating various conditions, might be appropriate for this need due to its anti-inflammatory/cytokine/viral activities, fewer side effects, and cost efficiency. To review Panax ginseng and its pharmacologically active-ingredients as potential phytopharmaceuticals for treating cytokine storm of COVID-19, articles that reporting its positive effects on the cytokine production were searched from academic databases. Experimental/clinical evidences for the effectiveness of Panax ginseng and its active-ingredients in preventing or mitigating cytokine storm, especially for the cascade of cytokine storm, suggest that they might be beneficial as an adjunct treatment for cytokine storm of COVID-19. This review may provide a new approach to discover specific medications using Panax ginseng to control cytokine storm of COVID-19.
【저자키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, Coronavirus disease 2019, Cytokine storm, Therapeutic strategies, Panax ginseng, 【초록키워드】 COVID-19, Treatment, coronavirus, pandemic, innate immune response, molnupiravir, Ritonavir, drug, antiviral drug, Moderate COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 variants, Effectiveness, Mild, Side effects, medication, cytokine production, Paxlovid, Evidence, Efficiency, acute respiratory syndrome, activities, treat, pro-inflammatory cytokine, article, cascade, positive, Effect, approach, caused, searched, induce, conditions, 【제목키워드】 help, Can,