Alkaloids as potential inhibitors targeting SARS-CoV-2

Alkaloids constitute an important and extensive group (approximately 12,000 components) of plant secondary metabolites known and used for over 4000years. Alkaloids are characterized by the presence of nitrogen atoms in the heterocyclic ring structure that are in the negative oxidation state, providing basic properties and different pharmacological activities. Alkaloids are found both in many plant families as much as in bacteria, fungi, and some animal species. Plants usually activate metabolic pathways that yield a mixture of different, but structure-related alkaloid compounds. From a therapeutic perspective, alkaloids exhibit different biological activities such as anesthetic and pain reliever activities, antibacterial, antifungal, antitumor, antidepressant, antiinflammatory, antioxidant, antiangiogenic, antidementia, antimetabolic syndrome, and antiviral effects. In the present chapter, a brief overview of the potential anti-COVID properties of alkaloids is reported.