Exploring Natural Compounds and Traditional Herbal Medicines as Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Agents: Insights into Molecular Mechanisms and Systems Pharmacology Approaches

The adversity of the current pandemic of COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has resulted in millions of deaths worldwide, leading to a significant global health crisis. The development of effective therapeutic agents against this virus is of utmost importance, and natural compounds and traditional herbal medicines have shown potential as anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents. This chapter delivers an inclusive review of the contemporary state of knowledge about traditional herbal medicines and their natural compounds having anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity, focusing on their molecular mechanisms of action and the pharmacological approaches used to investigate their activity. Inhibition mechanisms are followed to inhibit key viral proteins such as proteases, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, and helicases by compounds of traditional herbal medicines, providing insights into their potential as therapeutic agents. Additionally, systems pharmacology approaches used to investigate the anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity of natural products and traditional herbal medicines have been reviewed. Henceforth, this chapter aims to provide insights into the potential of traditional herbal medicines as therapeutic agents against COVID-19, to stimulate further research in the concerned field.