bims-antpol 2024-07-28 papers

Issue of 2024–07–28
five papers selected by
Rick Sheridan, EMSKE Phytochem

Drug Discov Today. 2024 Jul 18. pii: S1359-6446(24)00232-0. [Epub ahead of print] 104107

Phytochemicals in antiviral drug development against human respiratory viruses.

This review explores the potential antiviral properties of various plant-based compounds, including polyphenols, phytochemicals, and terpenoids. It emphasizes the diverse functionalities of compounds such as epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), quercetin, griffithsin (GRFT,) resveratrol, linalool, and carvacrol in the context of respiratory virus infections, including SARS-CoV-2. Emphasizing their effectiveness in modulating immune responses, disrupting viral envelopes, and influencing cellular signaling pathways, the review underlines the imperative for thorough research to establish safety and efficacy. Additionally, the review underscores the necessity of well-designed clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy and safety of these compounds as potential antiviral agents. This approach would establish a robust framework for future drug development efforts focused on bolstering host defense mechanisms against human respiratory viral infections.

Keywords: antiviral; defense; human respiratory viruses; phytochemicals

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drudis.2024.104107

J Ethnopharmacol. 2024 Jul 23. pii: S0378-8741(24)00912-7. [Epub ahead of print]335 118613

Maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp.) inhibits HIV-1 infection through the activity of thiadiazole alkaloids in viral integration.

Luis Apaza-Ticona, Manuela Beltrán, Elisa Moraga, David Cossio, Paulina Bermejo, José A Guerra, José Alcamí, Luis M Bedoya.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY RELEVANCE: Lepidium meyenii Walp. (maca) has been traditionally used for centuries in the Central Andes region both as food and as medicine. In the last decades, its fertility enhancer properties have gained importance, with the majority of the scientific literature related to this topic. However, other traditional uses are less known as metabolic or infectious diseases.
AIM OF THE STUDY: The main purpose of this study is to investigate the anti-infectious activity of L. meyenii, specifically in HIV-1 infection. There are previous reports of the transcriptional related activity of L. meyenii extracts in human T lymphocytes via transcription factors as NF-κB. Since T lymphocytes are the main target of HIV-1 infection and NF-κB is strongly involved in HIV-1 transcription, L. meyenii could display antiviral activity.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: Chromatography and spectroscopy techniques were used to isolate and identify the compounds in the active extracts. An antiviral assay system based on recombinant viruses was used to evaluate the anti-HIV activity. Cell toxicity was tested for all the extracts and compounds. Viral entry was studied using VSV-HIV chimera viruses and reverse transcription and viral integration were studied by qPCR of viral DNA in infected cells. Finally, viral transcription was studied in primary lymphocytes transfected with HIV-1 or NF-κB luciferase reporter plasmids.
RESULTS: n-Hexane extracts of purple maca displayed anti-HIV activity in an in vitro assay. A bioassay-guided fractionation led to the identification of three thiadiazole alkaloids with antiviral activity. All the compounds were able to inhibit HIV infection of MT-2 cell lines and primary lymphocytes (PBMCs) with IC50 values in the low micromolar range. The mechanism of action differs between the three compounds: one of them showed activity on viral entry, and all the three compounds inhibited viral integration at low concentrations. Remarkably, none of the compounds inhibited reverse transcription or viral transcription.
CONCLUSIONS: n-Hexane extracts of the purple ecotype of L. meyenii inhibit HIV-1 infection in vitro and three active thiadiazole alkaloids were isolated acting mainly on viral integration and viral entry.

Keywords: Antiviral; HIV; Integration; Lepidium; Maca: AIDS

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2024.118613

Int J Mol Sci. 2024 Jul 09. pii: 7507. [Epub ahead of print]25(14):

In Vitro Antiviral Activity of Kalanchoe daigremontiana Extract against Human Herpesvirus Type 1.

Marcin Chodkowski, Sylwia Nowak, Martyna Janicka, Marcin Sobczak, Sebastian Granica, Marcin W Bańbura, Malgorzata Krzyzowska, Joanna Cymerys.

Plant polyphenols possess diverse bioactivities, including antiviral activity against a broad spectrum of viruses. Here, we investigated the virucidal properties of an Kalanchoe daigremontiana extract using an in vitro model of human herpesvirus type 1 (HHV-1) infection. Chromatographic analysis indicated that the extract of Kalanchoe daigremontiana is rich in various compounds, among which are polyphenols with virucidal activity confirmed in the literature. We found that Kalanchoe daigremontiana extract shows an ability to prevent HHV-1 infection by direct inhibition of the virus attachment, penetration, and blocking of infection when used in pretreatment or post-entry treatment. Our results indicate that Kalanchoe daigremontiana extract may be a good candidate drug against HHV-1, both as a substance to prevent infection and to treat an already ongoing infection. Our findings illustrate that Kalanchoe daigremontiana could be a potential new candidate for clinical consideration in the treatment of HHV-1 infection alone or in combination with other therapeutics.

Keywords: HHV-1; Kalanchoe daigremontiana; human herpesvirus type 1; plant medicine

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25147507

Molecules. 2024 Jul 15. pii: 3328. [Epub ahead of print]29(14):

The Antiviral Potential of Perilla frutescens: Advances and Perspectives.

Jing Chen, Yi Zhao, Jie Cheng, Haoran Wang, Shu Pan, Yuwei Liu.

Viruses pose a significant threat to human health, causing widespread diseases and impacting the global economy. Perilla frutescens, a traditional medicine and food homologous plant, is well known for its antiviral properties. This systematic review examines the antiviral potential of Perilla frutescens, including its antiviral activity, chemical structure and pharmacological parameters. Utilizing bioinformatics analysis, we revealed the correlation between Perilla frutescens and antiviral activity, identified overlaps between Perilla frutescens target genes and virus-related genes, and explored related signaling pathways. Moreover, a classified summary of the active components of Perilla frutescens, focusing on compounds associated with antiviral activity, provides important clues for optimizing the antiviral drug development of Perilla frutescens. Our findings indicate that Perilla frutescens showed a strong antiviral effect, and its active ingredients can effectively inhibit the replication and spread of a variety of viruses in this review. The antiviral mechanisms of Perilla frutescens may involve several pathways, including enhanced immune function, modulation of inflammatory responses, and inhibition of key enzyme activities such as viral replicase. These results underscore the potential antiviral application of Perilla frutescens as a natural plant and provide important implications for the development of new antiviral drugs.

Keywords: Perilla frutescens; active compounds; antiviral; natural drug; oral bioavailability (OB)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29143328