Table 4 Natural molecule compounds with therapeutic effects or potential for the treatment of coronaviruses and their targets of action

Glycyrrhetinic acid

Glycyrrhizae Radix

Anti-inflammatory and anti-viral

Inhibits SARS virus replication

534.6

–

[57, 86, 87]

Cepharanthine

Stephania Japonica

Anti-viral, anti-infection

Inhibit the mutation of the novel coronavirus. Inhibits S protein binding to ACE2 via calcium channels, upregulates intracellular cholesterol levels and inhibits viral infection

–

0.417

[88, 89]

Matrine

Radix Sophorae Flavescentis

Antiviral, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory

Acts on TNF-α, IL-6 and CASP3 targets in the TNF signaling pathway to regulate viral replication, apoptosis and inflammatory responses

–

–

[90]

Safflower yellow pigment A

Saffron

Anti-inflammatory, analgesic

Reduction of inflammatory factors by decreasing the level of IL-1β and TNF-α

–

–

[91]

Baicalin

Scutellaria baicalensis

Anti-inflammatory

Inhibits the expression of IL-2, IL-6 and TNF-α, inhibits NF-κB mRNA expression and phosphorylation of p38

0.39

–

[29, 92]

Naringenin

Chinese Ephedra

Reduction of lung inflammation

Inhibits the release of inflammatory mediators through the NF-κB pathway, inhibits lung neutrophil infiltration and TNF-α secretion, and attenuates neutrophil-mediated oxidative damage

–

–

[27]

Quercetin

Forsythia, honeysuckle, ginkgo

Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant

Reduction of the expression level of NF-κB and ICAM-1 to weaken the role of NF-κB signaling pathway to reduce the inflammatory response. And it prevents viral spikes from binding to the body by inhibiting ACE2

12.65

–

[86, 93,94,95,96]

Lignocaine

Perrin

Anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral

Inhibits viral replication by inhibition of preprotein convertase and influence of viral replication in vitro by inhibition of expression of the capsid protein I complex

74.86

–

[41, 94,95,96]

Kaempferol

Fructus Forsythiae, Lonicera Japonica

Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral

Inhibits the expression of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, IL-1β to down-regulate the activity of MAKP, NF-κB and other inflammatory pathways

21.7

–

[93, 96]

β-sitosterol

Fructus Forsythiae, Lonicera Japonica

Hypolipidemic, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic

Inhibits TNF-α- NF-κB and TβR1-Smad2/3 signaling pathways ameliorate liver fibrosis injury

115

[97, 98]

Tectorigenin

Polygonum Cuspidatum

Anti-viral

Has high affinity to SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro, SARS-CoV 3CLpro and MERS-CoV 3CLpro, can effectively inhibit viral replication is a potential broad-spectrum inhibitor of coronavirus

18.66

–

[62, 99]

Artesunate

Artemisia annua

Inhibition of inflammatory response

Reduces the expression levels of IL-6, MCP-1 and TNF-α

–

–

[100]

Forsythiaside A

Fructus Forsythiae

Anti-viral

Inhibits SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro in vitro

3.18

[23]

Honokiol

Thicket

Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant

Inhibits JKN and NF-κB mediated inflammatory factor signaling pathways, reduces oxidative stress, and exerts anti-inflammatory effects

–

233.4

[29]

Resveratrol

Polygonum Cuspidatum, Grape

Anti-inflammatory, anti-viral

Inhibits TNF-α and NF-κB expression to reduce the expression of pro-inflammatory factors

29.81

–

[99, 101]