Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the etiological agent of
coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This virus has become a global pandemic with unprecedented mortality and morbidity along with attendant financial and economic crises. Furthermore,
COVID-19 can easily be transmitted regardless of religion, race, sex, or status. Globally, high hospitalization rates of
COVID-19 patients have been reported, and billions of dollars have been spent to contain the pandemic.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) 2 is a receptor of SARS-CoV-2, which has a significant role in the entry of the virus into the host cell. ACE2 is highly expressed in the type II alveolar cells of the lungs, upper esophagus, stratified epithelial cells, and other tissues in the body. The diminished expressions of ACE2 have been associated with
hypertension,
arteriosclerosis,
heart failure,
chronic kidney disease, and immune system dysregulation. Overall, the potential drug candidates that could serve as ACE2 activators or enhance the expression of ACE2 in a disease state, such as
COVID-19, hold considerable promise in mitigating the
COVID-19 pandemic. This study reviews the therapeutic potential and pharmacological benefits of the novel ACE2 in the management of
COVID-19 using search engines, such as Google, Scopus, PubMed, and PubMed Central.