COVID-19 infection made easy by turmeric, fact or hoax?

Turmeric is a traditional medicine that is often used, including in Indonesia. Some people drink kunyit asam when coughing. Many Indonesian dishes use turmeric, such as soto, yellow rice, fried chicken, fish, and many more. Approximately one year ago, there was a shocking issue, especially for Indonesians. It was reported that turmeric (Curcuma longa linn) facilitates the entry of the novel Corona virus, the cause of the pandemic coronavirus disease-19 (Covid-19), through angiotensin converting enzyme2 (ACE2).(1) Is that true?

             The Covid-19 pandemic has been running for a year. Symptoms of the respiratory tract are mostly complained of in this viral infection, such as coughing, fever and shortness of breath.(2,3,4) This virus enters the human body through angiotensin converting enzyme2 (ACE2).(4,5) Protein S in viruses binds to ACE2 in cells lead to virus mediation, fusion of virus cell membranes with humans and viral replication.(4)

Angiotensin converting enzyme2 (ACE2) converts angiotensin II to angiotensin. This enzyme is similar to ACE. There are 2 angiotensin II receptors, namely: type I and II. The binding of angiotensin II to type I receptors causes vasoconstriction of blood vessels and increased blood pressure, in contrast to vasodilation and a decrease in blood pressure when it binds to type II.(4) Alveoli cells of the lungs, heart, ileum (end of the small intestine), colon large), bile, esophagus, kidneys and bladder have a lot of ACE2.(4,6) Largest in the lungs. Covid-19 infection mostly attacks lung cells.(4)

General conditions of weakness can aggravate this disease and cause serious complications even death, so it needs to be treated immediately.(3,7) Currently, there is no specific antiviral for this virus.(3,4) A combination of antiviral, antibiotic and anti-inflammatory is commonly used. Some plants contain a mixture of polyphenolic compounds that have antiviral properties (4).

             Curcumin, one of the main polyphenols in turmeric which is anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, enhancing immunity, immunomodulatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, antioxidant and anti-fungal, has been shown to increase ACE2 in the heart and many blood vessels.(4,8-13) The way curcumin inhibits Corona virus infection is thought to be in 2 ways. First, curcumin binds to both the protease domain (6Lu7) and the glycoprotein spike found in the Corona virus protein receptor as well as the virus attachment site to the ACE2 receptor. Second, the angiotensin type I receptor is lowered whereas type II is enhanced by curcumin. There was a decrease in the number of angiotensin II bonds with angiotensin type I receptors so that the levels of interleukin-1, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α were reduced.(4,13) Cytokine storms were inhibited.

             So far, turmeric has been widely researched, including in America, England, Taiwan even Europe and is declared safe. The use of curcumin in doses of 0.45 g / day to 12 g / day for three to four months has been declared safe even in cancer patients.(1,10) The ingredients of turmeric, curcuma and meniran are beneficial for improving cardiovascular, blood profile, liver, kidney and the patient's quality of life.(10)

             It is concluded that turmeric facilitates Covid-19 infection, has not been scientifically proven. Based on the description above, turmeric can be used as a supporting therapy in Covid-19 because of its immunomodulatory properties and is safe for public consumption.

Bibliography

1.      Widyastuti Y. Curcumin, Safe for Consumption During the Covid-19 Pandemic. National Research and Development Agency 2020. Accessed: 2020, 29th July. Available from:https://www.litbang.kemkes.go.id/curcumin-aman-dik Terbang-saat-pandemi-covid-19/

2.      Verma SK. In search of feasible interventions for the prevention and cure of novel Coronavirus disease 2019.

3.      Ikawaty R. Interaction Dynamics of ACE2 and SARS-CoV-2 Receptors Against the Clinical Manifestations of COVID-19. Journal of Health and Medicine. 2020, 1 (2): 70-76.https://doi.org/10.24123/kesdok.v1i2.2869

4.      Manoharan Y, Haridas V, Vasanthakumar KV, Muthu S, Thavoorulah FF, Shetty P. Curcumin: a Wonder Drug as a Preventive Measure for COVID19 Management. Ind J Clin Biochem. 2020, 35 (3): 373–375.https://doi.org/10.1007/s12291-020-00902-9

5.      Kurnia GM. Studying the benefits of turmeric and curcuma, UNAIR expert: They improve immune system. Masruroh BQ (Eds). UNAIR NEWS. 2020. Accessed: 2020, 16th May. Available from:http://news.unair.ac.id/en/2020/03/20/studying-the-benefits-of-turmeric-and-curcuma-unair-expert-they-improve-immune-system/

6.      Fakhrudin, N. Measuring the Potential of Indonesian Plants to Prevent Corona Virus Infection. 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2020. Available from:https://farmasi.ugm.ac.id/id/menakar-ppot-tanaman-indonesia-untuk-p Prevention-infection-virus-corona/

7.      Zahedipour F, Hosseini SA, Sathyapalan T, Majeed M, Jamialahmadi T, Al-Rasad K, Banach M, Sahebkar A. Potential effects of curcumin in the treatment of COVID-19 infection. Phytotherapy Research. 2020; 34: 2911–2920. DOI: 10.1002 / ptr.6738

8.      Xue YW, Qi JC, Du L.Intervention effect and mechanism of curcumin in chronic urinary tract infection in rats. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine. 2017, 10 (6): 594-598.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apjtm.2017.06.009

9.      Pearson W, Kott LS. A biological extract of turmeric (Curcuma longa) modulates the response of cartilage explants to lipopolysaccharide. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2019, 19: 252.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-019-2660-z

10.  Praditya D, Kirchhoff L, Brüning J, Rachmawati H, Steinmann J, Steinmann E. Anti-infective properties of the golden spice curcumin. Frontiers in Microbiology. 2019, 10: 1-16.https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2019.00912

11.  Mulyani H, Widyastuti SH, Ekowati VI. Herbal plants as traditional medicinal herbs for diseases in Primbon Fiber Jampi Jawi volume I. Journal of Humanities Research. 2016, 21 (2): 73-91

12.  Maulida PK, Indradi RB. Pharmacological activities of zingiber officinale rosc., Curcuma longa l., And curcuma xanthorrhiza roxb: a review. Farmaka. 2019, 17 (2): 150-160

13.  Pang XF, Zhang LH, Bai F, Wang NP, Garner RE, McKallip RJ, Zhao ZQ. Attenuation of myocardial fibrosis with curcumin is mediated by modulating expression of angiotensin II AT1 / AT2 receptors and ACE2 in rats. Drug Design, Development and Therapy. 2015, 9: 6043-6054.DOI: https://doi.org/10.2147/DDDT.S95333