Challenges in the current standard drug regimen
The role of cellular pH is an important factor to consider while using lauric acid as a therapeutic agent. Research has revealed that acidic condition (pH 4.2) was found to be more effective than pH 7.0 when MCFAs and long chain fatty acids (LCFAs) were evaluated for antiviral activities against RSV and parainfluenza virus type 2, as well as on HSV types 1 and 2 (Hilmarsson et al., 2007). Nonetheless, efficacy of the chemical drug chloroquine and its derivatives, currently being widely used for the treatment of COVID-19, functions by increasing the endosomal pH and disrupts the glycosylation of cellular receptor of the virus (Cortegiani et al., 2020). Hence, the compatibility and efficacy of coconut oil-and /or its derivative-based treatment in view of the current drug regimen are researchable concerns. Multi-targeted interventions to treat COVID-19 are gaining momentum so as to harvest the potential synergies and additive effects of various drug molecules (Gaborit et al., 2020). Hence, the optimal spatio-temporal administration of drug components including coconut oil and its products requires to be explored so that a combination therapy is designed to treat the COVID-19.
Recent evidences highlight the fact that cardiovascular co-morbidities associated with the COVID-19 is due to the SARS-CoV-2 infection of human endothelial cells and the resultant endotheliitis (Varga et al., 2020). This study thus corroborates the rationale for stabilizing the endothelial tissues while administering antiviral drugs for COVID-19 more so for the vulnerable patients with endothelial dysfunction. In this framework, it is relevant to acknowledge that lauric acid or coconut oil has an inherent positive impact by ameliorating the cardiovascular diseases and in fighting obesity (Assunção et al., 2009, Adeyemi et al., 2020). Hence, the need for supplementary designer therapies to stabilize the endothelial tissues would become redundant when lauric acid or coconut oil is used in COVID-19 treatment.