Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Activity Screening of the Selected Thai Medicinal Plants and Potential Host-target Molecules

Authors

  • Sarayut Radapong Medicinal Plant Research Institute, Department of Medical Sciences
  • Tiyanee Sahad Medicinal Plant Research Institute, Department of Medical Sciences
  • Nathaphat Harnkit Medicinal Plant Research Institute, Department of Medical Sciences
  • Praw Suppajariyawat Medicinal Plant Research Institute, Department of Medical Sciences
  • Pilailuk Akkpaiboon Okada National Institute of Health, Department of Medical Sciences
  • Wandee Meechalad National Institute of Health, Department of Medical Sciences
  • Pornchai Sincharoenpokai Medicinal Plant Research Institute, Department of Medical Sciences
  • Somchit Niumsakul Medicinal Plant Research Institute, Department of Medical Sciences
  • Sekrachatakorn Buaboa Medicinal Plant Research Institute, Department of Medical Sciences
  • Sakwichai Ontong Medicinal Plant Research Institute, Department of Medical Sciences
  • Kenneth J. Ritchie Center for Natural Products Discovery (CNPD), Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom
  • Siriwan Chaisomboonpan Medicinal Plant Research Institute, Department of Medical Sciences

Keywords:

Anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity, ACE2 inhibition, Target molecules, COVID-19

Abstract

         Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the pandemic, is caused by a virus called SARSCoV-2. The objective of this study was to investigate the anti-SARS-CoV-2 properties of some selected medicinal plants used as antipyretic in Thai traditional medicines. They were screened for anti-SARSCoV-2 activity using plaque reduction assay. The extracts were further investigated for activity in enzymatic inhibition and gene expression assays of several host-target molecules. The results revealed that the aqueous extracts of Mesosphaerum suaveolens (L.) Kuntze (HSF, HSD) and Helicteres isora L. (HID) at the highest concentrations of 5, 5 and 10 mg/mL showed the highest anti-SARS-CoV-2 activities of 100%, 100% and 99.49%, respectively. Rosmarinic acid (RA), one of the phytochemicals found in M. suaveolens (L.) Kuntze and H. isora L., at 0.625 mg/mL, gave an antiviral activity of 94.49%. RA also showed the highest relative ACE2 inhibition of 70.25% at 100 μg/mL with no toxicity to the cells, whereas the other extracts showed a lower level of relative ACE2 inhibition. RA also reduced the expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 but not PIKfyve or cathepsin L in Calu-3, lung epithelial cell lines. In conclusion, HSF, HSD, HID and RA provided anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity, which could limit the viral infection in the early phase. The extracts should be further investigated for anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity in animals and clinical trials for development as herbal drugs.

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Published

30-06-2022

How to Cite

1.
Radapong S, Sahad T, Harnkit N, Suppajariyawat P, Akkpaiboon Okada P, Meechalad W, Sincharoenpokai P, Niumsakul S, Buaboa S, Ontong S, J. Ritchie K, Chaisomboonpan S. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Activity Screening of the Selected Thai Medicinal Plants and Potential Host-target Molecules. ว กรมวิทย พ [internet]. 2022 Jun. 30 [cited 2025 Dec. 28];64(2):93-105. available from: https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/dmsc/article/view/255953

Issue

Vol. 64 No. 2 (2022): April - June 2022

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Original Articles

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