Tamarind (Tamarindus Indica L.) Seed A Candidate Protein Source With Potential For Combating Sars-Cov-2 Infection In Obesity

Introduction: Obesity and coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 are overlapping pandemics, and one might worsen the other.Methods: This narrative review discusses one of the primary mechanisms to initiate acute respiratory distress syndrome, uncontrolled systemic inflammation in COVID-19, and presents a potential candidate for adjuvant treatment. Blocking the S protein binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) and the 3C-like protease (3CL(pr)(o)) is an effective strategy against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection.Results: Host proteases such as FURIN, trypsin, and transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS) act in S protein activation. Tamarind trypsin inhibitor (TTI) shows several beneficial effects on the reduction of inflammatory markers (tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-alpha], leptin) and biochemical parameters (fasting glycemia, triglycerides, and very low-density lipoprotein [VLDL]), in addition to improving pancreatic function and mucosal integrity in an obesity model. TTI may inhibit the action of proteases that collaborate with SARS-CoV-2 infection and the neutrophil activity characteristic of lung injury promoted by the virus.Conclusion: Thus, TTI may contribute to combating two severe overlapping problems with high cost and social complex implications, obesity and COVID-19.