POSSIBLE MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF POLYSACCHARIDES ACTION IN VIRAL DISEASES

Over the past decades, numerous studies have established that polysaccharides obtained from various sources have a wide range of biological activities, including antiviral action. This paper presents data mainly on the antiviral activity of polysaccharides and intracellular signaling pathways that may be involved in its manifestation, some sources and types of polysaccharides, features of their composition and structure, and the main types of their biological activities are mentioned. In connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, the features of the causative agent of this disease, the SARS-CoV-2 virus, its interactions with cell receptors, the molecular mechanisms of the consequences of the disease and the possible medicinal effect of polysaccharides in this disease are considered in more detail. In prospect, natural polysaccharides may prove to be effective therapeutic agents for various viral diseases, perhaps more effective and without side effects in comparison with traditional antiviral drugs.