Taiwanese study finds that Hernandonine from Hernandia nymphaeifolia can be used to combat the Dengue virus
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Aug 28, 2024 2 weeks, 3 days, 9 hours, 57 minutes ago
Dengue News:
A Promising Phytochemical Against Dengue Virus
In a groundbreaking study, researchers from several esteemed Taiwanese institutions, including the National Defense Medical Center, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Shu-Zen Junior College of Medicine and Management, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, and China Medical University, have uncovered promising evidence of a natural compound's ability to combat dengue virus (DENV). This
Dengue News report delves into the significant findings of their research, which explores the effects of hernandonine, an oxoaporphine alkaloid, on DENV, revealing a potential new avenue for antiviral treatment.
Taiwanese study finds that Hernandonine from Hernandia nymphaeifolia can be used to combat the Dengue virus.
The Global Dengue Threat
Dengue, caused by the Orthoflavivirus dengue virus, continues to pose a severe global health threat, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. The virus, which is transmitted by mosquitoes, can lead to symptoms ranging from mild fever to life-threatening complications such as severe liver damage and neurological issues. As global warming and globalization facilitate the spread of dengue-carrying mosquitoes, the potential for outbreaks in previously unaffected areas has escalated, making the development of effective antiviral treatments more crucial than ever.
Despite the existence of a dengue vaccine, its application is limited primarily to individuals with prior dengue exposure. Unfortunately, there is still no approved antiviral drug available to treat dengue infections. As a result, the focus has shifted to supportive care, while researchers worldwide search for new treatments. This is where natural products, particularly plant-derived compounds, have shown great potential, offering a rich source of candidates for antiviral drug development.
Hernandonine: A Natural Antiviral Agent
Hernandonine, derived from the plant Hernandia nymphaeifolia, has previously been recognized for its ability to inhibit HIV-1 integrase. This property piqued the interest of the Taiwanese research team, leading them to investigate whether hernandonine could also be effective against the dengue virus.
Exploring the Antiviral Mechanisms
To explore hernandonine’s effects on DENV, the researchers conducted a series of in vitro experiments using cells and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cerebral organoids. The study involved exposing these cells and organoids to hernandonine before and after DENV infection. Additionally, the research team utilized various endocytosis modulators, including genistein, wortmannin, methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD), and lovastatin, to assess how hernandonine interacts with cellular processes involved in DENV infection.
The findings revealed that hernandonine exhibits notable antiviral properties, particularly in inhibiting the virus during the early stages of infection. Mechanistic analysis showed that hernandonine, simila
r to the other modulators used in the study, impacted cholesterol-rich lipid rafts within cell membranes. These lipid rafts play a crucial role in the virus's ability to enter host cells.
Moreover, hernandonine was found to restrain the movement of pseudopodia - cellular projections that aid in viral entry - by downregulating genes and proteins involved in cytoskeleton and endocytosis regulation. This dual action of disrupting lipid rafts and inhibiting pseudopodial movement highlights hernandonine's potential as a multifaceted antiviral agent.
Validation in Cerebral Organoids
One of the most exciting aspects of this study is the validation of hernandonine's antiviral activity in a disease-relevant model. The researchers successfully demonstrated that hernandonine could inhibit DENV infection in iPSC-derived cerebral organoids, a novel and advanced model that mimics the brain's cellular environment. This finding is particularly significant as it suggests that hernandonine could be effective in preventing or treating neurological complications associated with severe dengue infections.
Implications and Future Directions
The discovery of hernandonine’s antiviral properties against dengue is a significant step forward in the fight against this pervasive disease. The fact that hernandonine can inhibit DENV in its early stages of infection opens up new possibilities for developing treatments that can be administered soon after exposure to the virus, potentially reducing the severity of the disease.
Moreover, the study’s validation of hernandonine in a cerebral organoid model adds a new dimension to dengue research. It suggests that this compound could play a crucial role in addressing the neurological complications of dengue, which are among the most challenging aspects of severe cases.
Future research will likely focus on further exploring hernandonine’s mechanisms of action and its efficacy in vivo. If these studies confirm its effectiveness, hernandonine could become a key component in the development of new antiviral drugs targeting not only dengue but potentially other viruses that utilize similar cellular pathways for entry and replication.
Conclusion
Hernandonine, a natural compound derived from Hernandia nymphaeifolia, has shown promising antiviral activity against the dengue virus. The Taiwanese research team's findings suggest that hernandonine disrupts crucial cellular processes involved in the virus's entry into host cells, particularly in the early stages of infection. Moreover, its effectiveness in a cerebral organoid model highlights its potential for preventing or treating severe neurological complications associated with dengue.
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal: Phytomedicine.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0944711324006445
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https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/harvard-and-stanford-researchers-discover-new-antivirals-against-dengue
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/thailand-medical-researchers-find-that-extracts-of-clinacanthus-nutans-lindau-can-inhibit-dengue-virus
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