Figure 1.
Interaction sites of the plant products within the SARS-CoV-2 replication cycle. Some plant products are able to impair the entry of the virus onto host cell (C). They can bind the surface proteins of the virus, such as the spike glycoprotein, impairing its binding to the ACE2 receptor in the host cell (H). In addition, the plant products can reduce the activity of the ACE2 and other receptors, such as TMPRSS2 (F and G). They also cause deformations in the spike protein (K), which compromises its interaction with ACE2 and viral envelope molecules. The plant products can also interfere with some phases of virus multiplication after viral penetration into the host cells. Studies demonstrated that they can inhibit some viral enzymes responsible for SARS-CoV-2 replication (J), such as protease Mpro and 5α-reductase (A, L, I, and B). Also, an inhibitory effect on the SARS-CoV-2 nucleoprotein was observed (D), and damage to the viral genome has also been reported (L). Endosomal pH changes were also observed, leading to destruction of viral particles inside the host cell (E). Plants products and interaction sites: A. paniculata (A to C); Artemisinins (D and E); C. sativa (F and G); C. longa L. and P. nigrum (H); E. purpurea (F and H); G. glabra L. and glycyrrhizin (C, I, and J); O. europaea L. (K and L); phenolic compounds (H and K); P. granatum L. (H). (A color version of this figure is available in the online journal.)