Polygoni multiflori radix extracts inhibit SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus entry in HEK293T cells and zebrafish larvae.
Phytomedicine
; 102: 154154, 2022 Jul 20.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1889764
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Globally, COVID-19 has caused millions of deaths and led to unprecedented socioeconomic damage. There is therefore, in addition to vaccination, an urgent need to develop complementary effective treatments and/or protective and preventative therapies against this deadly disease.METHODS:
Here, a multi-component testing platform was established to screen a library of herbal extracts from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), to identify potent herbal extracts/phytochemicals as possible therapeutics for COVID-19. We utilized assays for spike protein (S-protein) binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme II (ACE2); the enzymatic inhibition of 3CL protease; and entry of the SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus into cultured HEK293T cells and zebrafish larvae.RESULTS:
Over a thousand herbal extracts were screened and approximately 20 positive hits were identified. Among these, we found that the water and ethanol extracts of Polygoni Multiflori Radix (PMR) significantly inhibited S-protein binding to ACE2, 3CL protease activity, and viral entry into the cell and fish models. The water extract was more effective than the ethanol extract, with IC50 values of 25 to 500 µg/ml. In addition, the polysaccharide-depleted fraction of the former, and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) which was found in both extracts, displayed significant antiviral activity.CONCLUSIONS:
Our results indicate that the water and ethanol extracts of PMR have an inhibitory effect on SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus host-cell entry. Furthermore, EGCG might be an active component of PMR, which blocks SARS-CoV-2 entry to cells. Taken together, our findings suggest that PMR might be considered as a potential treatment for COVID-19.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Polygonum
/
COVID-19 Drug Treatment
Topics:
Traditional medicine
/
Vaccines
Limits:
Animals
/
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Phytomedicine
Journal subject:
Complementary Therapies
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
J.phymed.2022.154154
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