Exploring Phytochemicals As Potential Inhibitors Targeting Sars-Cov-2

Abstract

SARS CoV 2 is part of a large group of viruses called coronaviruses. It is a positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus with one linear RNA segment. Coronaviruses can infect humans, animals like cows and pigs (livestock), pets, and even birds. COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has seriously affected more than 219 countries around the world. At present, there are no specific small-molecule drugs that directly fight this virus. Doctors have used different types of medicines to treat COVID-19. These include antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and antiviral drugs. However, the full effect of these drugs on the virus has not been fully tested. Sometimes, after treatment, the virus can change its genetic material. This can lead to the creation of new strains, making the disease even more dangerous and harder to control. There are also no approved synthetic drugs available to treat memory loss caused by long COVID, often called "brain fog." Because of this, researchers are looking at natural substances to help treat it. The way these natural plant-based compounds (called phytocomponents) work has been studied using a method called structure-based docking simulation. This helps predict how they might act in the body.