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.