Tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) seed a candidate protein source with potential for combating SARS-CoV-2 infection in obesity

• Autor(a) principal: Morais, Ana Heloneida de Araújo
• Data de Publicação: 2021
• Outros Autores: Medeiros, Amanda F. de, Medeiros, Isaiane, Lima, Vanessa C. O. de, Luz, Anna B. S., Maciel, Bruna L. L., Passos, Thaís S.
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da UFRN
• Texto Completo: https://repositorio.ufrn.br/handle/123456789/54326
• topic: 3CLpro; ACE-2; COVID-19; FURIN; HNE; Inflammation; TMPRSS

Introduction: Obesity and coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 are overlapping pandemics, and one might worsen the other. Methods: This narrative review discusses one of the primary mechanisms to initiate acute respiratory distress syndrome, uncontrolled systemic inflammation in COVID-19, and presents a potential candidate for adjuvant treatment. Blocking the S protein binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) and the 3C-like protease (3CL pro) is an effective strategy against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Results: Host proteases such as FURIN, trypsin, and transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS) act in S protein activation. Tamarind trypsin inhibitor (TTI) shows several beneficial effects on the reduction of inflammatory markers (tumor necrosis factor α [TNF-α], leptin) and biochemical parameters (fasting glycemia, triglycerides, and very low-density lipoprotein [VLDL]), in addition to improving pancreatic function and mucosal integrity in an obesity model. TTI may inhibit the action of proteases that collaborate with SARS-CoV-2 infection and the neutro phil activity characteristic of lung injury promoted by the virus. Conclusion: Thus, TTI may contribute to combating two severe overlapping problems with high cost and social complex implications, obesity and COVID-19.