Antiviral Effect of Ephedrine Alkaloids-Free Ephedra Herb Extract against SARS-CoV-2 In Vitro
We report for the first time that ephedrine alkaloids-free Ephedra Herb extract (EFE) directly inhibits the replication of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in vitro and that the addition of EFE to the culture medium before viral infection reduces virus titers in the cultu...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/2/534 |
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| author | Masashi Uema Masashi Hyuga Kenzo Yonemitsu Sumiko Hyuga Yoshiaki Amakura Nahoko Uchiyama Kazushige Mizoguchi Hiroshi Odaguchi Yukihiro Goda |
| author_facet | Masashi Uema Masashi Hyuga Kenzo Yonemitsu Sumiko Hyuga Yoshiaki Amakura Nahoko Uchiyama Kazushige Mizoguchi Hiroshi Odaguchi Yukihiro Goda |
| author_sort | Masashi Uema |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We report for the first time that ephedrine alkaloids-free Ephedra Herb extract (EFE) directly inhibits the replication of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in vitro and that the addition of EFE to the culture medium before viral infection reduces virus titers in the culture supernatant of SARS-CoV-2, including those of variant strains, by more than 99%, 24 h after infection. The addition of Ephedra Herb macromolecule condensed-tannin, which is the main active ingredient responsible for the anticancer, pain suppression, and anti-influenza effects of EFE, similarly suppressed virus production in the culture supernatant by 99% before infection and by more than 90% after infection. Since EFE does not have the side effects caused by ephedrine alkaloids, such as hypertension, palpitations, and insomnia, our results showed the potential of EFE as a safe therapeutic agent against coronavirus disease 2019. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:22:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-47a5d1fc003d46b9b5617d4556054a4c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:22:59Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-47a5d1fc003d46b9b5617d4556054a4c2023-11-16T22:17:13ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072023-02-0111253410.3390/microorganisms11020534Antiviral Effect of Ephedrine Alkaloids-Free Ephedra Herb Extract against SARS-CoV-2 In VitroMasashi Uema0Masashi Hyuga1Kenzo Yonemitsu2Sumiko Hyuga3Yoshiaki Amakura4Nahoko Uchiyama5Kazushige Mizoguchi6Hiroshi Odaguchi7Yukihiro Goda8National Institute of Health Sciences, 3-25-26 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki 210-9501, Kanagawa, JapanNational Institute of Health Sciences, 3-25-26 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki 210-9501, Kanagawa, JapanNational Institute of Infectious Diseases, 4-7-1 Gakuen, Musashimurayama 208-0011, Tokyo, JapanOriental Medicine Research Center, Kitasato University, 5–9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8642, JapanCollege of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Matsuyama University, 4-2 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama 790-8578, Ehime, JapanNational Institute of Health Sciences, 3-25-26 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki 210-9501, Kanagawa, JapanKampo Research & Development Division, Tsumura & Co., 3586 Yoshiwara, Ami-machi, Inashiki-gun 300-1192, Ibaraki, JapanOriental Medicine Research Center, Kitasato University, 5–9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8642, JapanNational Institute of Health Sciences, 3-25-26 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki 210-9501, Kanagawa, JapanWe report for the first time that ephedrine alkaloids-free Ephedra Herb extract (EFE) directly inhibits the replication of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in vitro and that the addition of EFE to the culture medium before viral infection reduces virus titers in the culture supernatant of SARS-CoV-2, including those of variant strains, by more than 99%, 24 h after infection. The addition of Ephedra Herb macromolecule condensed-tannin, which is the main active ingredient responsible for the anticancer, pain suppression, and anti-influenza effects of EFE, similarly suppressed virus production in the culture supernatant by 99% before infection and by more than 90% after infection. Since EFE does not have the side effects caused by ephedrine alkaloids, such as hypertension, palpitations, and insomnia, our results showed the potential of EFE as a safe therapeutic agent against coronavirus disease 2019.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/2/534ephedrine alkaloids-free Ephedra Herb extractEphedra Herb macromolecule condensed–tanninCOVID-19SARS-CoV-2antiviral therapeutic |
| spellingShingle | Masashi Uema Masashi Hyuga Kenzo Yonemitsu Sumiko Hyuga Yoshiaki Amakura Nahoko Uchiyama Kazushige Mizoguchi Hiroshi Odaguchi Yukihiro Goda Antiviral Effect of Ephedrine Alkaloids-Free Ephedra Herb Extract against SARS-CoV-2 In Vitro Microorganisms ephedrine alkaloids-free Ephedra Herb extract Ephedra Herb macromolecule condensed–tannin COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 antiviral therapeutic |
| title | Antiviral Effect of Ephedrine Alkaloids-Free Ephedra Herb Extract against SARS-CoV-2 In Vitro |
| title_full | Antiviral Effect of Ephedrine Alkaloids-Free Ephedra Herb Extract against SARS-CoV-2 In Vitro |
| title_fullStr | Antiviral Effect of Ephedrine Alkaloids-Free Ephedra Herb Extract against SARS-CoV-2 In Vitro |
| title_full_unstemmed | Antiviral Effect of Ephedrine Alkaloids-Free Ephedra Herb Extract against SARS-CoV-2 In Vitro |
| title_short | Antiviral Effect of Ephedrine Alkaloids-Free Ephedra Herb Extract against SARS-CoV-2 In Vitro |
| title_sort | antiviral effect of ephedrine alkaloids free ephedra herb extract against sars cov 2 in vitro |
| topic | ephedrine alkaloids-free Ephedra Herb extract Ephedra Herb macromolecule condensed–tannin COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 antiviral therapeutic |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/2/534 |
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