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Roshdy WH, Rashed HA, Kandeil A, Mostafa A, Moatasim Y, Kutkat O, Abo Shama NM, Gomaa MR, El-Sayed IH, El Guindy NM, Naguib A, Kayali G, Ali MA. EGYVIR: An immunomodulatory herbal extract with potent antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0241739. [PMID: 33206688 PMCID: PMC7673558 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to the challenges for developing vaccines in devastating pandemic situations of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), developing and screening of novel antiviral agents are peremptorily demanded. Herein, we developed EGYVIR as a potent immunomodulatory herbal extract with promising antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2. It constitutes of a combination of black pepper extract with curcumin extract. The antiviral effect of EGYVIR extract is attributed to the two key phases of the disease in severe cases. First, the inhibition of the nuclear translocation of NF-kβ p50, attenuating the SARS-CoV-2 infection-associated cytokine storm. Additionally, the EGYVIR extract has an in vitro virucidal effect for SARS-CoV-2. The in vitro study of EGYVIR extract against SARS-CoV-2 on Huh-7 cell lines, revealed the potential role of NF-kβ/TNFα/IL-6 during the infection process. EGYVIR antagonizes the NF-kβ pathway in-silico and in-vitro studies. Consequently, it has the potential to hinder the release of IL-6 and TNFα, decreasing the production of essential cytokines storm elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wael H. Roshdy
- Central Public Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health and Population, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Helmy A. Rashed
- Central Public Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health and Population, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Kandeil
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Mostafa
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt
| | - Yassmin Moatasim
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt
| | - Omnia Kutkat
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt
| | - Noura M. Abo Shama
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt
| | - Mokhtar R. Gomaa
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt
| | - Ibrahim H. El-Sayed
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Kafr El Sheikh University, Kafr El-Shaikh, Egypt
| | - Nancy M. El Guindy
- Central Public Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health and Population, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Amal Naguib
- Central Public Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health and Population, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ghazi Kayali
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Human Link, Baabda, Lebanon
| | - Mohamed A. Ali
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt
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