Exploitation of polyphenols and proteins using nanoencapsulation for anti-viral and brain boosting properties - Evoking a synergistic strategy to combat COVID-19 pandemic.

Nairah Noor, Adil Gani, Asir Gani, Asima Shah, Zanoor Ul Ashraf

Journal: International journal of biological macromolecules 2021;180():375-384

PMID: 33716131

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Abstract

The world is currently under the threat of COVID pandemic and has focused every dimension of research in finding a cure to this novel disease. In this current situation, people are facing mental stress, agony, fear, depression and other associated symptoms which are taking a toll on their overall mental health. Nanoencapsulation of certain brain boosting polyphenols including quercetin, caffeine, cocoa flavanols and proteins like lectins can become new area of interest in the present scenario. Besides the brain boosting benefits, we have also highlighted the anti- viral activities of these compounds which we assume can play a possible role in combating COVID-19 given to their previous history of action against certain viruses. This review outlines the nanoencapsulation approaches of such synergistic compounds as a novel strategy to take the ongoing research a step ahead and also provides a new insight in bringing the role of nanotechnology in addressing the issues related to COVID pandemic.

Address: Laboratory of Functional Food and Nutraceuticals, Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Kashmir, Srinagar 190006, India.; Laboratory of Functional Food and Nutraceuticals, Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Kashmir, Srinagar 190006, India; Department of Food Science, Rutgers University, 65 Dudley Road, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, United States. Electronic address: [email protected].

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.03.028