Exploring the role of phytochemicals as biopharmaceuticals targeting Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) virus: An Overview

ALI (Acute lung injury) and its more fatal form ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome) together represent a broad spectrum oflung diseases, which are characterized by the abrupt onset of pulmonary inflammation with fluid filled alveoli resulting in hypoxia. With the advancement of several diagnostic tools, especially discovery of multiplex RT-PCR, increased the chance to investigate the involvement of different respiratory viruses in causing ARDS. There are several different viruses responsible for ARDS and among them few are capable of causing pandemic. Influenza viruses such as H5N1 and H1N1 causing pandemic in 2009. Also among different corona viruses, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and most recently a novel betacoronavirus strain, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been identified. Till date, the therapy against virus induced ARDS has not been optimized. Naturally existing phytochemicals and plant biotechnology could offer prospective solutions for the treatment against virus induced ARDS by developing inhibitors, low-cost vaccines and antibodies, which could not only be useful for treatment but could also be used for diagnosis. In this present COVID-19 pandemic, use of plant based therapeutic approach has already been adopted by several pharma companies to treat ARDS and there are several molecules currently under clinical trials with encouraging results. This review provides detailed outlook on ARDS pandemic causing viruses, pathophysiology of viruses and role of phytochemicals and plantibodies as anti-viral agent. Further, it summarizes list of phytochemicals and their mode of action in these pathogenic viruses.