Fangchinoline inhibits SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV entry

Antiviral Res. 2023 Nov 8:105743. doi: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2023.105743. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThe COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, lead to mild to severe respiratory illness and resulted in 6.9 million deaths worldwide. Although vaccines are effective in preventing COVID-19, they may not be sufficient to protect immunocompromised individuals from this respiratory illness. Moreover, novel emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2 pose a risk of new COVID-19 waves. Therefore, identification of effective antivirals is critical in controlling SARS and other coronaviruses, such as MERS-CoV. We show that Fangchinoline (Fcn), a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid, inhibits replication of SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, and MERS-CoV in a range of in vitro assays, by blocking entry. Therapeutic use of Fcn inhibited viral loads in the lungs, and suppressed associated airway inflammation in hACE2. Tg mice and Syrian hamster infected with SARS-CoV-2. Combination of Fcn with remdesivir (RDV) or an anti-leprosy drug, Clofazimine, exhibited synergistic antiviral activity. Compared to Fcn, its synthetic derivative, MK-04-003, more effectively inhibited SARS-CoV-2 and its variants B.1.617.2 and BA.5 in mice. Taken together these data demonstrate that Fcn is a pan beta coronavirus inhibitor, which possibly can be used to combat novel emerging coronavirus diseases.PMID:37949319 | DOI:10.1016/j.antiviral.2023.105743

Source: Antiviral Research - November 10, 2023 Category: Virology Authors: Srikanth Sadhu Jyotsna Dandotiya Rajdeep Dalal Ritika Khatri Anna Z Mykytyn Aashima Batra Manpreet Kaur Rucha Chandwaskar Virendra Singh Aarzoo Kamboj Mitul Srivastava Shailendra Mani Shailendra Asthana Sweety Samal Zaigham Abbas Rizvi Deepak B Salunke Ba Source Type: research