In my opinion no direct efficacy of antioxidants on the Virus. But the vitamin C and other antioxidants stimulate role to the immune system and prevent against the compounds resulting from the inflammation induced by the virus.

Free radicals damage cells and cause inflamations. Viral infections does damage cells and generate inflamations free producing free radicals. Further, generation of ROS cause stress-mediated negative consequences inclyding supression if immunity. Thus, antioxidants reduces free radicals, inflamation, stress and improve immunity indirectly by reducing cellular as well as system stress in the body.

Eshak Mourad El-Hadidy Your question is an unproved hypothesis. It' does not make any sense to discuss any hypothesis without having reliable experimental data.

Shail K Chaube You might be surprised that the immune system often uses free radical as a weapon.

Is Inflammation good or bad?

Any microorganism when invades in the body, perticularly pathogenic bacteria or viruses, they attack in various body cells to use them as energy resources for their replication. Body cells are damaged and

free radicals as well as inflamatory molecules are released . These radicals as well as inflamatory molecules are sensed by our immune cells and signals defense system to act upon. This is basic first, second and third line of defense system of human physiology. Yes.. to prevent entry of bacteria, free radicals play a role that I accept but once entered in the body story is different.

Shail K Chaube " This is basic first " that immune cells called macrophages produce free radicals while fighting off invading germs ' You did not answer: Is Inflammation good or bad? Please, no lectures on "basics."

Yes, in the presence of these compounds reduces the occurrence of inflammation and the resulting reactions from various oxidant compounds, they are important for protecting and improving the cells of the body.

Eshak Mourad El-Hadidy

Can anybody answer: "Is Inflammation good or bad?"

In short, acute inflamation is good since it prevents body from infection/injury. However, chronic inflamation is bad since it leads to onset of several dIseases . For example, stress generates free radicals that causes cellular damage and chronic inflamation, which is bad inflamation.

For more detail read given below informations from experts:

According to an article from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, good inflammation is a bit of a superhero, while bad inflammation is the exact opposite.

"When it’s good, it fights off foreign invaders, heals injuries, and mops up debris. But when it’s bad, inflammation ignites a long list of disorders: arthritis, asthma, atherosclerosis, blindness, cancer, diabetes and, quite possibly, autism and mental illness," William Snyder w

says, " how can you tell if you're dealing with the good superhero inflammation, or the bad super-villain inflammation?"

When your body is working like it should, inflammation will occur when you get sick or sustain an injury like a sprained ankle. This kind of inflammation is good, and it's part of your body's natural healing process. "When harmful bacteria or viruses enter your body, when you scrape or twist your knee, the body’s defense system kicks into high gear.

Chemicals ramp up the body to fight, bathing the damaged area with blood, fluid, and proteins; creating swelling and heat to protect and repair damaged tissue; and setting the stage for healing," an article in the Johns Hopkins Health Review explained.

On the other hand, bad inflammation is what happens when your body becomes inflamed when you're not fighting an injury or illness, and it's what Johns Hopkins referred to as the overfiring of your immune system. "Low levels of inflammation can get triggered in the body even when there’s no disease to fight or injury to heal, and sometimes the system can’t shut itself off." When you have bad inflammation, it usually presents as fever, redness, or pain for no identifiable reason.

Harvard Medical School's Harvard Health Publishing noted that experimental studies have shown that the best defense against bad inflammation is something you use every day.

Components of foods or beverages may have anti-inflammatory effects," Dr. Frank Hu, professor of nutrition and epidemiology in the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health, explained in the article. Anti-inflammatory foods include tomatoes, olive oil, green leafy vegetables, nuts, fatty fish, and fruit. Aside from helping to combat bad inflammation, Dr. Hu noted that eating a diet high in these types of foods, which he said is basically the Mediterranean diet, can also improve your physical and mental health.

Psoriasis is a good example of manifestation of bad inflammation wherein subjects own entities are regarded as foreign by the rescue system of the body and ultimately a battle between immune system and own body cells start. As a result of which sorts of negative happenings occur in the patient.

Antioxidants and flavonoids generally neutralize free radicals and they may have positive effect on immune cells by saving them from damages incurred due to attack of endogenous free radicals. Free radicals are a necessary evil for the biological system. Even during placentation the foremost step in start of life free radicals are involved. How free radicals can be made to attack the viruses may be the query. Intensive research need to be done before having a precise answer against tools devastative for COVID 19.

Rajnish Tripathi

I said necessary evil as free radicals are involved in extensive damages to the biological system, but at the same time, if free radicals are not there, implantation the first step in life will not happen. That's the reason we need antioxidants and free radical scavengers to git rid of them.

Rajnish Tripathi English is not my native language. I did not understand your post. What was the purpose to use an oxymoron in your post? Please, clarify a meaning of " if free radicals are not there, implantation the first step in life will not happen ." How radicals are involved in the first step in life? "we need antioxidants and free radical scavengers to git rid of them. " By the way O2 is a diradical and NO is a radical. One reacting radical always begets another radical. How antioxidants remove radicals? Which radical scavengers are present in living cells? I understand that RG is not an educational forum. I don't ask you to teach me, I'm asking a clarification of your statements to avoid misunderstanding.

Go thru this article https://doi.org/10.1016/S0015-0282(00)00638-5 to understand how radicals are involved in the first step of life.

Antioxidants neutralize free radicals by donating one of their own electrons, ending the electron-"stealing" reaction.

Melatonin is ubiquitously present and is an efficient free radical scavenger. Vit C, flavonoids and many others are there.

Rajnish Tripathi I'm sorry but I don't see much sense to continue discussion with you. I have pointed out several times that radicals are also beneficial for living organisms. The paper you recommended is just an example. Not all radical scavengers are antioxidants, not all antioxidants are the radical scavengers. Antioxidants DO NOT neutralize free radicals by donating one of their own electrons. One radical always produces another radical. Melatonin is not a radical scavenger.

you seem to be highly confused. all what I said you are repeating the same. the paper may be just an example but at the same time its an experimental evidence of whatever we say.

This is no longer a professional discussion. What I'm saying is based on basics of free radical chemistry. I've pointed out on your numerous mistakes. You never answered. What we are discussing?

Of course, they have a major impact on increasing immunity in patients, you can notice this link, which is entitled:

Flavonoids, Inflammation and Immune System

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5084045/

Luay A. Al-Helaly What are you discussing? Is your post the response to my comments? If yes, then be specific "Of course, they ( What?) have a major impact on increasing immunity in patients, you (Who?) can notice this link, which is entitled"

There is no doubt that flavonoids are very efficient antioxidants. I have a highly cited paper on measuring the antioxidant activity of flavonoids. From the reference you have provided:" However, the role of flavonoids in the specific arm of the immune response still remains quite unexplored." What is your post about?

To clarify, since the virus can cause many inflammations in the body, especially the respiratory system, and the defense mechanism needs to form oxidant compounds in high quantities, especially in the process of phagocytosis of the defensive cells, the affected body will need antioxidants (flavonoids or non-flavonoids) of various types to defend the body and to keep it away from the occurrence of oxidative stress.

Yurii V Geletii

In response to infectious agents and other stimuli, phagocytic cells of the immune system (neutrophils, eosinophils, and monocytes / macrophages) exhibit a rapid consumption of O2 called the respiratory burst. The respiratory burst is a major source of superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, the hydroxyl radical, hypochlorous acid (HOCl), and RNOS. The generation of oxidant compounds is part of the human antimicrobial defense system and is intended to destroy invading microorganisms, tumor cells, and other cells targeted for removal.

Yurii V Geletii

One of these mechanisms that clarifies the process of forming oxidant compounds in phagocytosis ( For example against bacteria or virus) can be illustrated as follows:

(1) Activation of NADPH oxidase on the outer side of the plasma membrane initiates the respiratory burst with the generation of superoxide. During phagocytosis, the plasma membrane invaginates, so superoxide is released into the vacuole space. (2) Superoxide (either spontaneously or enzymatically via superoxide dismutase [SOD]) generates H2O2. (3) Granules containing myeloperoxidase are secreted into the phagosome, where myeloperoxidase generates HOCl and other halides. (4) H2O2 can also generate the hydroxyl radical from the Fenton reaction. (5) Inducible nitric oxide synthase may be activated and generate NO. (6) Nitric oxide combines with superoxide to form peroxynitrite, which may generate additional RNOS. The result is an attack on the membranes and other components of phagocytosed cells, and eventual lysis. The whole process is referred to as the respiratory burst because it lasts only 30 to 60 minutes and consumes O2.

For this, we need high quantities of antioxidants (flavonoids and non-flavonoids) to reduce oxidative compounds resulting in high quantities as a result of infection with viruses or bacteria or other and improve the body immunologically.

From:

Smith,C. M. , Marks, A.D. and Lieberman, M. A. (2005)..Marks’ Basic

Medical Biochemistry, A Clinical Approach, 2nd Edition. Lippincott

Williams and Wilkins.

Yurii V Geletii

Dear Luay A. Al-Helaly , Thank you very much for your three educational but highly professional posts. Excellent job. Clear explanation using a simple language. I knew well what you explained but looked at this complex question from chemical point of view. The goals of my questions (sorry if too straightforward) were to see something what you have written. Thanks again.

You are welcome Dear Yurii V Geletii

Pleased to discuss with you.

Thank you very much.

Of course, they have a major impact on increasing immunity in patients.

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04323228