ANTIOXIDANTS PLAYS A MAJOR ROLE IN DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

INTRODUCTION 

COVID-19 is an acute and contagious disease characterised by pneumonia and ARDS. 

Oxidative stress‐ and inflammation‐triggered endothelial dysfunction as a healing goal for COVID‐19 and lots of bioactive substances, which can be certainly found in foods, have extensively displayed strong antioxidant activities. 

Adapting the techniques consisting of using dietary supplements which can suppress the continuing oxidative stress, acute-inflammation and cytokine storm so that destruction and harm triggered to affected tissues are prevented.

OXIDATIVE STRESS IN COVID-19 

Oxidative stress is described as the disproportion among the presence of antioxidants and free radicals, or prooxidants, in an organic system. oxidative strain performs an essential position in viral infections including SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 infections. 

The SARS-CoV-2 infection causes oxidative stress immediately through improving the manufacturing of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and not directly through suppressing the host antioxidant protection mediated through the nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (NRF-2). NRF-2 activators determined to inhibit replication of SARS-CoV-2 and the inflammatory response. 

These reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (ROS) play essential organic roles in cellular signalling pathways, thiol switches, regulation of inflammatory cytokines, growth factors, etc. manufacturing of extra RONS and a disproportionate cellular antioxidant-oxidant stability have an essential feature withinside the pathogenesis of breathing viral infections, including SARS-CoV infections.

METHODS TO MEASURE ANTIOXIDANT 

Several assays had been used to evaluate the overall antioxidant content material of foods. antioxidant-capacity assessment for natural antioxidant compounds or plant/meals extracts the usage of oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) strategies has attracted vast attention. Its precept becomes to degree the antioxidant-mediated protection of the fluorescent protein β-phycoerythrin from loose radical harm.

FRAP assay is a simple, speedy and cheaper assay with little selectivity. Assay conditions, together with extraction solvents, had been optimized concerning detection of each lipophilic and hydrophilic antioxidants. 

FOODS CONTAINING HIGH ANTIOXIDANT

Dietary antioxidants additionally exist in diverse forms, with polyphenols and carotenoids being the most important companies of compounds. 

pharmacological activities of polyphenols from plants, that is, 

• antioxidant
• antiviral
• antibacterial
• anti‐inflammatory
• anticancer
• antifungal

Carotenoids, additionally called tetraterpenoids, are lipid-soluble plant pigments answerable for the intense red, yellow, and orange colourings in lots of end result and greens.

The maximum antioxidant values in this class had been determined by many of the unprocessed tea leaves, tea powders and coffee beans. 

Taken care of by way of means of antioxidant content, clove has the best suggest antioxidant value, accompanied by way of means of 

• Peppermint
• Thyme
• Sage
• Allspice
• Cinnamon
• Oregano
• Rosemary
• Saffron and 
• Estragon

All dried and ground, with suggested values starting from 44 to 277 mmol/100 g. 

When analyzed in sparkling samples in comparison to the dried herbs, oregano, rosemary, and thyme have decreased values, withinside the variety 2.2–5.6 mmol/100 g. 

This is likewise authentic for basil, chives, dill, and parsley. 

Eggs are near without antioxidants with the best antioxidant values observed in egg yolk 0.16 mmol/100 g.

Dairy products with delivered berries or chocolate and cheeses like Brie, Gorgonzola and Roquefort are the maximum antioxidant wealthy products. 

Antioxidant-rich greens had fruits are 

• Dried apples
• Flour fabricated from okra
• Curly kale
• Dried apricots
• Artichokes
• Lemon skin
• Dried plums
• Pink and green chilli 
• Prunes

NATURAL FOODS WHICH HELPS IN COVID 

Curcumin has a large spectrum of organic actions, inclusive of 

• antifungal
• antibacterial
• antiviral
• antioxidant and 
• anti-inflammatory activities. 

It exerts its antioxidant results each with the aid of using neutralizing free radicals and improving the production of antioxidant enzymes.

Piperine is acquired from the ethanolic extract of black pepper and is a first-rate alkaloid withinside the organization of cinnamates. 

piperine is an effective antioxidant and protects in opposition to oxidative harm with the aid of neutralizing free radicals, ROS, and hydroxyl radicals. It scavenges superoxide radicals with IC50 of 1.82 mM and inhibits lipid peroxidation with IC50 of 1.23 mM. 

Cinnamaldehyde is an evidently present natural compound abundantly determined in critical oils in cinnamon. cinnamaldehyde is a capacity anti-inflammatory bioactive compound and will be beneficial in mitigation of SARS-CoV-2 brought about hyper inflammation withinside the lung. It will inhibit inducible nitric oxide synthase thus expressed in inflammatory substances such as activated macrophages. 

Propolis produced with the aid of using honeybees and acknowledged to have a large spectrum of biological properties. Propolis at better attention inhibits lymphoproliferation even as at low concentrations the impact is reversed, inflicting lymphoproliferation. 

OXYGEN RICH FOODS

Iron is a crucial element of the haemoglobin and myoglobin molecules and, therefore, performs an essential function in oxygen transport.

Meat is a great supply of iron as it has the red pigment haemoglobin in it too. plant-primarily based totally ingredients can boost their iron uptake through combining unique plant-primarily based totally ingredients in particular ways. 

Oxygen-rich foods are oranges, orange juice, broccoli and crimson peppers. Meat, fish and chicken additionally increase the quantity of iron absorbed from plant-based ingredients.

CONCLUSION 

Reduced oxidative pressure might have a big useful impact all through the early degree of viral contamination by preventing viral protein binding at the host cells.

Nutrients withinside the proper aggregate to gain the practical synergy withinside the shape of ready-to-consume food dietary supplements can also additionally offer each prophylactic and adjuvant remedy in opposition to COVID-19.

Further studies are wanted to look at the organic results of antioxidant-rich herbs and spices on oxidative-pressure-associated diseases.

REFERENCE 

• Sushi Y, Ishikawa M, Yoshioka D, et al. Oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) of cyclodextrin-solubilized flavonoids, resveratrol and astaxanthin as measured with the ORAC-EPR method. J Clin Biochem Nutr. 2012;50(2):127-132. doi:10.3164/jcbn.11-21. 
• Carlsen MH, Halvorsen BL, Holte K, et al. The total antioxidant content of more than 3100 foods, beverages, spices, herbs and supplements used worldwide. Nutr J. 2010;9:3. Published 2010 Jan 22. doi:10.1186/1475-2891-9-3. 
• https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jfbc.13557
• Mrityunjaya M, Pavithra V, Neelam R, Janhavi P, Halami PM, Ravindra PV. Immune-Boosting, Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Food Supplements Targeting Pathogenesis of COVID-19. Front Immunol. 2020;11:570122. Published 2020 Oct 7. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2020.570122. 
• Suhail S, Zajac J, Fossum C, et al. Role of Oxidative Stress on SARS-CoV (SARS) and SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Infection: A Review. Protein J. 2020;39(6):644-656. doi:10.1007/s10930-020-09935-8. 
• Oustarah F, Mohiuddin SS. Dietary Iron. [Updated 2020 Apr 30]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan-.
• Paur I, Carlsen MH, Halvorsen BL, et al. Antioxidants in Herbs and Spices: Roles in Oxidative Stress and Redox Signaling. In: Benzie IFF, Wachtel-Galor S, editors. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press/Taylor & Francis; 2011. Chapter 2.