Hydrogen sulfide: From a toxic gas to a potential therapy for COVID-19 and inflammatory disorders.

COVID-19 has been shown to induce inflammatory disorders and CNS manifestations. Swift and efficient treatment strategies are urgently warranted for the management of COVID, inflammatory and neurological disorders. Hydrogen sulfide (HS) has been associated with several clinical disorders due to its potential to influence a broad range of biological signalling pathways. According to recent clinical studies, COVID patients with lower physiological HS had higher fatality rates. These findings clearly demonstrate an inverse correlation between HS levels and the severity of COVID-19. HS has been proposed as a protective molecule because of its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties. Various HS-releasing prodrugs, hybrids and natural compounds have been tested for their therapeutic efficacy in viral infections and inflammatory disorders. In this review, I am highlighting the rationale for using HS-based interventions for the management of COVID-19 and post-infection inflammatory disorders including neuroinflammation. I am also proposing therepurposing of existing HS-releasing prodrugs, developing new NO-HS-hybrids, targeting HS metabolic pathways, and using HS-producing dietary supplements as viable defensive strategies against SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 pathologies.