Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team May 12, 2026 32 minutes ago
Medical News: Scientists are increasingly warning that severe COVID-19 is not just a lung disease. New research now suggests that the virus may also trigger dangerous damage in the brain’s blood vessels, potentially leading to strokes, bleeding in the brain, blood clots, memory issues, and long-term neurological complications. Encouragingly, researchers have identified several naturally derived compounds that may help protect the brain and blood vessels from these devastating effects.
Natural plant-derived compounds may help protect the brain and blood vessels from severe COVID-19
complications including strokes and clotting disorders
The new study was conducted by researchers from the Iran University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and Laiko General Hospital in Greece, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences in Iran, and Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences in Iran.
Why Severe COVID-19 Can Harm the Brain
The researchers explained that SARS-CoV-2 can invade the nervous system through several pathways, including the bloodstream and even the olfactory nerves linked to smell. Once inside the body, the virus can damage blood vessel linings and trigger a massive inflammatory reaction often called a “cytokine storm.”
A key culprit appears to be a biological signaling pathway known as p38 MAPK. In healthy conditions, this pathway helps cells respond to stress. But in severe COVID-19, it can become dangerously overactivated. Scientists found that excessive p38 MAPK activity may worsen inflammation, tighten blood vessels, damage the blood-brain barrier, and increase the risk of strokes and brain hemorrhages.
The study noted that many hospitalized COVID-19 patients experience neurological symptoms ranging from headaches and dizziness to seizures, encephalitis, cerebral thrombosis, and hemorrhagic stroke. Older individuals and those with existing cardiovascular problems appear to be especially vulnerable.
Natural Compounds Showing Remarkable Potential
Researchers reviewed a large number of plant-derived compounds capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier and suppressing harmful p38 MAPK activity. Many of these compounds are found in herbs, spices, roots, and medicinal plants already used in traditional medicine.
Among the most promising was pinocembrin, a flavonoid compound found in propolis and certain plants. Experimental studies showed that pinocembrin reduced brain swelling, protected blood vessel integrity, and lowered clot formation. It also reduced inflammatory damage and improved survival in models of severe thrombosis and sepsis.
Another important group was the tanshinones, compounds derived from the traditional medicinal herb Salvia miltiorrhiza. Researchers found that tanshinone IIA in particular reduced brain injury after stroke, protected blood vessels, promoted new vessel growth, and stabilized the blood-brain barrier. It also suppressed inflammatory molecules such as IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α that are heavily linked to severe COVID complications.
This
;https://www.thailandmedical.news/">Medical News report highlights that several other natural compounds also demonstrated protective effects. These included tangeretin, sakuranetin, berberine, palmatine, coptisine, chelerythrine, sanguinarine, osthole, scoparone, decursin, rhynchophylline, zerumbone, ginger-derived compounds, and schisandrin B. Many of them showed anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antithrombotic, and blood vessel-stabilizing actions.
Protecting Blood Vessels May Save Lives
One of the most concerning discoveries is that COVID-19 may directly attack blood vessel cells by interfering with ACE2 receptors. This can lead to dangerous narrowing of blood vessels, increased clotting, oxygen deprivation, and even bleeding in the brain.
The researchers stressed that preserving the integrity of the blood-brain barrier is critical because once this protective barrier breaks down, inflammation and toxins can flood into delicate brain tissues. Natural p38 MAPK inhibitors may help prevent this destructive chain reaction.
Importantly, many of the compounds reviewed have already shown safety in earlier laboratory and animal studies, making them attractive candidates for future therapeutic development.
Conclusions
The study presents growing evidence that severe COVID-19 can trigger widespread cerebrovascular damage through excessive inflammation, clot formation, oxidative stress, and overactivation of the p38 MAPK pathway. Researchers believe that naturally derived compounds capable of crossing into the brain and calming this pathway may provide a valuable additional strategy for protecting patients from strokes, thrombosis, brain bleeding, and long-term neurological decline. Although more human clinical trials are still needed, the findings suggest that plant-based compounds with anti-inflammatory and vascular-protective properties may eventually become important supportive therapies in severe viral infections like COVID-19 and even influenza.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Medicine in Drug Discovery.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590098626000114
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Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/coronavirus
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/long-covid
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/herbs-and-phytochemicals
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/covid-19-herbs
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