On the possibility of using ozone in the treatment of COVID-19

The review highlights the prospects of using ozone therapy in COVID-19, which is currently widely used for the treatment and prevention of various diseases. The therapeutic efficacy of ozone therapy is based on moderate and regulated oxidative stress caused by these reactions with various biological components, as well as on its antiviral and immunomodulatory properties. Ozone has certain biological properties that suggest a possible positive role in the treatment of COVID-19. The mechanisms of action and clinical efficacy of ozone therapy have been proven in other viral infections and have been shown to be very suitable for combating the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The high oxidative potential of ozone provides bactericidal, fungicidal and viricidal effects against the most important types of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, viruses, pathogenic fungi and protozoa. In addition, ozone increases the return of oxygen to insufficiently supplied tissues, promotes the reduction of hemoglobin, improves tissue respiration and normalizes the rheological properties of the blood. The immunomodulatory effect of ozone is based on its ability to activate phagocytosis due to the formation of peroxides and stimulation of cytokine production by lymphocytes and monocytes. Modification of the membranes of the blood cells and the ultrastructural organization of the vasculature together with a decrease in blood viscosity lead to an improvement in microcirculation and gas exchange at the tissue level. Thus, perhaps due to its physical and biological properties, ozone therapy can play a role in the treatment of COVID-19 as a supplement to standard treatment regimens.