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ISSN (Print): 2666-7967
ISSN (Online): 2666-7975

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Perspective

Cordycepin and its Nucleoside Analogs for the Treatment of Systemic COVID-19 Infection

Author(s): P. Chellapandi* and S. Saranya

Volume 3, Issue 1, 2022

Published on: 10 September, 2021

Article ID: e221221196360 Pages: 6

DOI: 10.2174/2666796702666210910111551

Abstract

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a new coronavirus isolated from Wuhan, China. It is a global health emergency, and there is no effective antiviral therapeutics available to date. Continuous structural genomic insights of SARS-CoV-2 proteins provide a warranty for the development of rational- based antivirals. Nevertheless, a structure-based drug candidate with multiple therapeutic actions would be a practical choice of medication in the treatment of severe COVID-19 patients. Cordycepin from medicinal fungi (Cordyceps spp.) and its nucleoside analogs targeting viral RNAdependent RNA polymerase and human RNase L have potent antiviral activity against various human viruses with additional immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects. Anti-inflammation treatment is of pivotal importance and should be timely tailored to the individual patient along with antivirals. Our perspective on the combined antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects of cordycepin and its analogs suggests them as new therapeutics in the treatment of systemic COVID-19 infection.

Keywords: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, cordycepin, medicinal fungi, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, anti-inflammation.

Graphical Abstract

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