Role of vitamins and minerals as immunity boosters in COVID-19.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) known as coronavirus disease (COVID-19), emerged in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. On March 11, 2020, it was declared a global pandemic. As the world grapples with COVID-19 and the paucity of clinically meaningful therapies, attention has been shifted to modalities that may aid in immune system strengthening. Taking into consideration that the COVID-19 infection strongly affects the immune system via multiple inflammatory responses, pharmaceutical companies are working to develop targeted drugs and vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19. A balanced nutritional diet may play an essential role in maintaining general wellbeing by controlling chronic infectious diseases. A balanced diet including vitamin A, B, C, D, E, and K, and some micronutrients such as zinc, sodium, potassium, calcium, chloride, and phosphorus may be beneficial in various infectious diseases. This study aimed to discuss and present recent data regarding the role of vitamins and minerals in the treatment of COVID-19. A deficiency of these vitamins and minerals in the plasma concentration may lead to a reduction in the good performance of the immune system, which is one of the constituents that lead to a poor immune state. This is a narrative review concerning the features of the COVID-19 and data related to the usage of vitamins and minerals as preventive measures to decrease the morbidity and mortality rate in patients with COVID-19.

Neuroprotective potential of Moringa oleifera mediated by NF-kB/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway: A review.

Moringa oleifera is a traditional Indian herb belonging to the Moringaceae family, it is commonly known as the horse-radish tree, drumstick, or sahajna. In developing countries, Moringa is used as feed for both humans and animals due to its well-known antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties owing to its several phytoconstituents including ß-carotene, quercetin, kaempferol, ascorbic acid, flavonoids, phenolic acid, rhamnose, glycosylates, glucomoringin, and isothiocyanates. These constituents help to maintain the brain antioxidant enzyme levels, mitochondrial functions, and neurogenesis, showing neuroprotective effects in several neurodegenerative disorders including Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's Disease, Huntington's Disease, and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This review discusses various phytoconstituent of moringa and their therapeutic potential in various neurological disorders. Additionally, we also concise the safety and toxicity profile, of different molecular pathways involved in the neuroprotective effect of M. oleifera including M. oleifera nanoparticles for better therapeutic value. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Several clinical and preclinical studies on Moringa oleifera have been conducted, and the outcomes indicate moringa could be used in the treatment of brain disorders. As a result, we conclude that moringa and its nanoformulations could be employed to treat neurological problems. In the future, M. oleifera phytoconstituents could be evaluated against specific signaling pathways, which could aid researchers in discovering their mechanism of action. Furthermore, the use of moringa as a nutraceutical owing to its myriad pharmacological potential will go a long way in boosting the economy of countries that grow moringa on a large scale.