A team of scientists from Germany and the USA recently studied the effectiveness of traditional plant medicines in the treatment of severe respiratory disease coronavirus syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Their results show that there are several sections of two medicinal plants, viz Artemisia annua and Artemisia afra, it can inhibit SARS-CoV-2 reproduction in vitro without causing any cytotoxicity. The study is currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server.
Background
The recent outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the pathogen SARS-CoV-2, has placed a huge burden on the health care systems of many countries around the world. Although approximately 80% of COVID-19 patients develop only mild symptoms or remain asymptomatic, the disease has affected more than 2.4 million lives worldwide since its onset in December 2019. In the first stage of the pandemic, many antiviral medications have already been approved for other diseases. resuscitated for the treatment of patients with very severe COVID-19. Many vaccines with good efficacy and safety standards have been developed and approved in the quickest time to prevent the growth of the pandemic.
Various synthetic (artesunate) products of artemisinin, which is a bioactive natural fertilizer found in Artemisia annua plants, usually used as antimalarial drugs. The antimicrobial properties of these bioactive fertilizers are clinically recognized. Different sections of Artemisia annua in which high artemisinin is currently under phase 2 clinical trials to treat COVID-19 patients. From April 2020 in Madagascar, Covid-Organics will be drinking mostly Artemisia annua Extracts are used as a miraculous intervention to treat and prevent COVID-19.
In the current study, the scientists have examined its effectiveness Artemisia annua and Artemisia afra extracts and Covid-Organics in the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro. Using different animal cell lines, they specifically investigated whether these plant products are able to inhibit the reproduction of SARS-CoV-2 and feline coronavirus.
Important comments
Both water and ethanolic extracts of dried leaves of Artemisia annua and Artemisia afra were used in this study. In addition, 500 mg of pure artemisinin and a dried form of 50 ml of Covid-Organics were dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide and tested for activity using various in vitro tests.
To determine its antiviral activity, the scientists first stimulated feline coronineirus with different concentrations of plant extracts and pure artemisinin solution on a monolayer of feline kidney cells. Using a plaque-forming assay, they found that the tested extracts significantly inhibited dose-dependent viral reproduction. In particular, they found that, at a concentration range of 5 – 10 mg / ml, all tested pieces significantly inhibited viral reproduction, but no inhibition was seen at less than 2 mg / ml. Based on these findings, they selected the most potent extracts with the highest antiviral activity for further testing on SARS-CoV-2.
A set of tests performed using a monkey kidney cell line showed that the extracts had a strong antiviral activity at a concentration of less than 2 mg / ml against SARS-CoV-2. The strongest SARS-CoV-2 inhibitory effects were observed for aqueous extracts of Artemisia annua and Artemisia afra and ethanolic extract of Artemisia annua. Since then Artemisia afra artemisinin is not present, the scientists believe that other bioactive fertilizers present in the plant may be responsible for the observed anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity.
Using a separate set of experiments, the scientists hypothesized that these extracts could induce cytotoxic effects at a concentration range of 10 – 20 mg / ml, which was significantly higher than the concentrations of required for anti-virus activities. This observation demonstrates that these segments can inhibit SARS-CoV-2 reproduction without affecting cell viability.
Preparations made from Covid-Organics drink showed higher antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 compared to Feline coronavirus. However, the selectivity index (the window between cytotoxicity and antiviral activity) of Covid-Organics drink was estimated at 5.2, making it as promising as antiviral treatment.
(a) Images of the SARS-CoV-2 tablets injured by various reductions of Covid- Organics. The dose is expressed as a percentage of the raw drink. (b) Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 replication concentration using different components. Values are expressed as mean ± SD, n = 3.
Investigate meaning
The study states that there are several sections of Artemisia annua and Artemisia afra antiviral actions are possible against SARS-CoV-2. However, the scientists point out that further studies are needed to determine whether appropriate serum levels of Artemisia compounds needed to prevent SARS-CoV-2 in patients can be achieved. In addition, further clinical trials of animals and humans are needed to determine the presence of these in vitro comments can be translated for clinical use itself.
* Important message
bioRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be seen as final, guiding health-related clinical / behavioral practice, or treated as fixed information.