PUBLICATION
Polygoni multiflori radix extracts inhibit SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus entry in HEK293T cells and zebrafish larvae
- Authors
- Wang, X., Lin, S., Tang, R.W., Lee, H.C., Chan, H.H., Choi, S.S.A., Leung, K.W., Webb, S.E., Miller, A.L., Tsim, K.W.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-220517-22
- Date
- 2022
- Source
- Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology 102: 154154 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Miller, Andrew L., Webb, Sarah E.
- Keywords
- 3CL protease, Polygoni Multiflori Radix, Pseudovirus tests, S-protein ELISA, SARS-CoV-2, Traditional Chinese Medicine
- MeSH Terms
-
- Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2
- Animals
- COVID-19*/drug therapy
- Ethanol
- HEK293 Cells
- Humans
- Larva
- Polygonum*
- SARS-CoV-2
- Water
- Zebrafish
- PubMed
- 35576740 Full text @ Phytomedicine
Citation
Wang, X., Lin, S., Tang, R.W., Lee, H.C., Chan, H.H., Choi, S.S.A., Leung, K.W., Webb, S.E., Miller, A.L., Tsim, K.W. (2022) Polygoni multiflori radix extracts inhibit SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus entry in HEK293T cells and zebrafish larvae. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology. 102:154154.
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.
Genes / Markers
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping