SPECIAL ARTICLE   Free access

Minerva Gastroenterologica e Dietologica 2020 June;66(2):172-6

DOI: 10.23736/S1121-421X.20.02697-5

Copyright © 2020 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Possible therapeutic role of a highly standardized mixture of active compounds derived from cultured Lentinula edodes mycelia (AHCC) in patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus

Francesco DI PIERRO ¹ ✉, Alexander BERTUCCIOLI ², Ilaria CAVECCHIA ¹

¹ Department of Sciences and Research, Velleja Research, Milan, Italy; ² Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Carlo Bo University of Urbino, Urbino, Italy

The outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 disease (COVID-19) is currently, March 2020, affecting more than 100,000 people worldwide and, according to the WHO (World Health Organization), a pandemic is shortly expected. The virus infects the lower respiratory tract and causes severe pneumonia and mortality in approximately 10% and 3-5%, respectively, of cases, mainly among the elderly and/or people affected by other diseases. AHCC is an α-glucan-based standardized mushroom extract that has been extensively investigated as an immunostimulant both in animals and/or in humans affected by West Nile virus, influenza virus, avian influenza virus, hepatitis C virus, papillomavirus, herpes virus, hepatitis B virus and HIV by promoting a regulated and protective immune response. Although the efficacy of AHCC has not yet been specifically evaluated with respect to SARS-CoV-2 disease, its action in promoting a protective response to a wide range of viral infections, and the current absence of effective vaccines, could support its use in the prevention of diseases provoked by human pathogenic coronavirus, including COVID-19.

KEY WORDS: Coronavirus; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus; Shiitake mushrooms; Adjuvants, immunologic