Thailand Doctors Discover Natural Compounds That Kill Deadly Viruses Including SARS-CoV-2 And Flu Viruses
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Feb 13, 2025 5 hours, 12 minutes ago
Thailand Doctors: A groundbreaking study conducted by researchers from Mahidol University and Chulabhorn Research Institute in Thailand has revealed that natural compounds from plants and fungi could be highly effective in killing dangerous viruses. The study, published in the Journal of Infection and Public Health, focuses on the virucidal properties of four natural compounds - tiliacorinine, dioscorine, racemosol, and terrain - against major viruses such as Influenza A (H1N1), human coronavirus 229E, SARS-CoV-2, and Enterovirus 71 (EV71). This Medical News report highlights their potential as future antiviral agents.
Thailand Doctors Discover Natural Compounds That Kill Deadly Viruses Including SARS-CoV-2
And Flu Viruses
The Urgent Need for New Virucidal Agents
Viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, which caused the COVID-19 pandemic, continue to pose serious global health threats. Influenza A viruses, particularly H1N1, trigger seasonal outbreaks that can lead to high mortality rates, while human coronavirus 229E contributes to respiratory infections. Enterovirus 71 is another significant concern as it can cause hand, foot, and mouth disease with potential neurological complications. The rapid mutation of these viruses makes them resistant to existing antiviral drugs, necessitating the development of new solutions.
Natural compounds have long been recognized for their medicinal properties. The researchers aimed to explore whether specific plant- and fungus-derived substances could be harnessed to combat viral infections effectively.
How the Study Was Conducted
The
Thailand Doctors used the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) E1053-20 method to evaluate the virucidal activity of the four natural compounds. The compounds were extracted from various plant and fungal sources:
-Tiliacorinine from Tiliacora triandra
-Dioscorine from Dioscorea hispida
-Racemosol from Bauhinia malabarica
-Terrein from the fungus Aspergillus terreus
The study tested these compounds on virus-infected cells in a controlled laboratory setting. The effectiveness of each compound was measured based on the percentage reduction in viral activity after treatment.
Key Findings of the Study
1. Racemosol and Terrein Show Strongest Virucidal Activity
Among the four compounds tested, racemosol demonstrated the highest potency, showing a 99.99% viral reduction (log reduction of 4) against H1N1, human coronavirus 229E, and SARS-CoV-2 at a concentration of 0.125 mg/mL. Terrein also exhibited strong virucidal properties, achieving similar reductions but at a slightly higher concentration of 0.5 mg/mL.
2. Tiliacorinine and Dioscorine Show Moderate Activity
The alkaloids tiliacorinine and dioscorine also showed notable but comparatively lower effectiveness. Tiliacorinine achieved a 99.96% reduction in H1N1
at 0.125 mg/mL, while dioscorine required 0.5 mg/mL to reach 99.94% efficacy. However, both compounds exhibited weaker results against Enterovirus 71.
3. Effectiveness Against Enterovirus 71
While all four compounds showed some level of activity against Enterovirus 71, racemosol was the most effective, achieving a 99.98% viral reduction at 0.125 mg/mL. The other three compounds showed significantly weaker effects on this virus, indicating that further research is needed to develop more potent treatments.
Why These Findings Matter
The discovery of these natural compounds as powerful virucidal agents is significant for multiple reasons:
-Potential for Natural Disinfectants - Most commercial disinfectants rely on synthetic chemicals, which can have harmful environmental and health effects. These plant- and fungus-derived compounds could serve as natural, biodegradable alternatives.
-Future Antiviral Drug Development - The results suggest that these compounds could be further developed into oral or topical antiviral treatments for viral infections, especially for emerging viruses.
Preparedness for Future Pandemics - Given the unpredictability of viral outbreaks, having new virucidal compounds ready for development could be crucial in managing future pandemics.
Limitations and Future Research
While this study presents promising results, there are a few limitations:
-Toxicity concerns - Some of the compounds, particularly dioscorine, are known for their neurotoxic effects, which could limit their practical applications.
-Scalability - Racemosol is sourced from Bauhinia malabarica, a plant whose availability could be limited, raising concerns about large-scale production.
-Further Testing Required - The study focused on in vitro (lab-based) testing. Clinical trials on humans are necessary to confirm the safety and efficacy of these compounds in real-world applications.
Conclusion
This research marks a significant step in the search for effective natural virucidal agents. Among the four compounds tested, racemosol and terrein emerged as the most potent, showing near-commercial levels of effectiveness in killing viruses such as H1N1, human coronavirus 229E, and SARS-CoV-2. The findings suggest that these compounds could be developed into natural disinfectants or potential antiviral drugs. However, more studies, including clinical trials, are needed before they can be used in medical or commercial applications.
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Infection and Public Health.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876034125000486
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