Steroids and Triterpenes: Potential drug candidates for COVID-19

Abstract

World Health Organisation declared the Novel Corona Virus as a pandemic disease on 11th March 2020. Corona Virus or Severe Acute Respiratory Disorder Corona Virus 2 (SARS CoV2) caused a situation of panic all around the globe as well as a huge economic disturbance faced by all the nations. Currently there is no medicine approved for this disease that can overcome the human suffering. Although, drugs like hydroxychloroquine have been used to treat the patients but they are nor so effective and beside they causes several severe side effects. This lack of treatment increases the urgency of efficient and safe treatment. Traditionally, natural products have been used to cure various viral diseases like HIV, MERS-CoV, and influenza. Medicines made from purified natural products can help to prevent as well to treat the patients that are suffering from the corona virus. Therefore, current review discusses the potential of triterpenes and sterols found in the natural products that have been well established against various viral diseases. Interestingly, it has been found out that some plants products have the potential and they can be used as the potent drug candidates for the development of the anti-viral against the Corona Virus.