Arctigenin found in Forsythia Viridissima shows promise against human coronavirus
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jul 11, 2024 3 months, 6 days, 17 hours, 3 minutes ago
Herbs And Phytochemicals: Forsythia viridissima, a plant widely used in traditional medicine across Korea, Japan, and China, might hold the key to a new treatment for coronavirus infections. Researchers from Yonsei University, the National Institute of Horticultural & Herbal Science, and Yong-In University in South Korea have discovered that arctigenin, a phytochemical compound extracted from Forsythia viridissima fruit, significantly inhibits the replication of human coronavirus. This
Herbs And Phytochemicals news report explores their groundbreaking findings.
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Arctigenin found in Forsythia Viridissima shows promise against human coronavirus
Image: TMN
Uncovering the Power of Forsythia viridissima
The study team, led by Dr Jaeyeon So, Dr Jang Hoon Kim, Dr Siyun Lee, Dr Chansoo Kim, Dr Rackhyun Park, and Dr Junsoo Park embarked on a quest to identify natural compounds capable of reducing coronavirus replication, focusing on the human coronavirus OC43 (HCoV-OC43) strain, which is often used as a model for more severe coronaviruses like SARS-CoV-2.
How Arctigenin Works
Forsythia viridissima fruit ethanol extract (FVFE) was found to reduce the expression of coronavirus proteins in a dose-dependent manner. This indicates that FVFE inhibits the replication of the virus. Further analysis identified arctigenin as the active component responsible for this effect. Arctigenin treatment not only decreased the production of coronavirus proteins but also reduced virus-induced cytotoxicity, making it a potent antiviral compound.
Detailed Study Findings
-Reduced Coronavirus Replication
The researchers treated infected cells with FVFE and observed a significant reduction in coronavirus protein levels. This decrease was evident both in the cell lysates and in the conditioned media, which contained newly produced virus particles. The reduction in protein levels indicates that FVFE effectively inhibits coronavirus replication.
-Impact on RNA Levels
Quantitative RT-PCR analysis showed that FVFE treatment also reduced the RNA levels of key coronavirus genes, including the membrane protein (M), nucleoprotein (N), and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). This suggests that FVFE disrupts the virus's ability to replicate its genetic material.
-Plaque Formation Assay
To quantify the reduction in infectious virus particles, the team conducted a plaque formation assay. They found that FVFE treatment significantly decreased the number of plaques formed by the virus, indicating a reduction in the number of infectious virus particles.
Arctigenin: The Active Antiviral Compound
The researchers isolated arctigenin from FVFE and tested its antiviral p
roperties. Arctigenin was shown to be highly effective in reducing coronavirus replication. It not only decreased the expression of viral proteins but also inhibited virus-induced cytotoxicity. This makes arctigenin a promising candidate for further development as an antiviral treatment.
Minimal Cytotoxicity
One of the critical findings was that arctigenin exhibited minimal cytotoxicity at effective concentrations, making it a safe candidate for therapeutic use. The compound alleviated coronavirus-induced cell damage, further highlighting its potential as an antiviral agent.
Potential Applications and Future Research
Arctigenin's effectiveness against coronavirus, combined with its low toxicity, suggests that it could be developed into a treatment for coronavirus infections, including COVID-19. However, further research is needed to confirm these findings in animal models and eventually in human clinical trials.
Broader Implications
Arctigenin has previously been shown to have antiviral effects against other viruses, including influenza A, Chikungunya, and HIV. Its effectiveness against multiple viruses indicates that it could be a valuable addition to the arsenal of antiviral treatments.
Conclusion
The discovery of arctigenin's antiviral properties is a significant step forward in the fight against coronavirus infections. This natural compound from Forsythia viridissima offers a promising new approach to treating and preventing these diseases.
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed International Journal of Molecular Sciences.
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/25/13/7363
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