Exploring Plant‐Derived Nutraceuticals as Potential SARS CoV‐2 Mpro Inhibitors

ABSTRACT The emergence of novel coronavirus SARS CoV‐2 led to a global pandemic, resulting in millions of deaths and prompting extensive research to develop vaccines and treatments. The main protease (Mpro) of SARS CoV‐2 is a promising antiviral target due to its essential role in viral replication. Nutraceuticals, defined as food‐derived bioactive compounds that provide health benefits beyond nutrition, are attractive candidates for antiviral drug discovery. This short communication aims to present current knowledge on plant‐derived nutraceuticals targeting SARS CoV‐2 Mpro, with a focus on the need for experimental validation of in silico predictions. By clarifying limitations and highlighting promising future directions, this work contributes a concise perspective on the role of food‐derived compounds in antiviral strategies in general, and anti‐SARS CoV‐2 in particular.