Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids Screen Unveils Potent Anticoronaviral Compounds and Associated Structural Determinants.

ABSTRACT: Betacoronaviruses encompass a spectrum of respiratory diseases, from common cold caused by the human coronavirus (HCoV)-OC43 to life-threatening severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV-2. Addressing the constant need for novel antiviral compounds, we turned to the exploration of 40 plant-specialized metabolites produced by the medicinal plant family Amaryllidaceae, known to produce lycorine, a strong antiviral alkaloid. The present screen included 35 alkaloids with representatives of 8 ring-type structures. Pancracine, crinamine, hemanthamine, and hemanthidine exhibited potency comparable to lycorine in blocking HCoV-OC43 replication, while amarbellisine demonstrated superior efficacy (SI = 60, EC₅₀ = 0.2 μM). Their anticoronaviral activity was confirmed using a SARS-CoV-2

SUBMITTER: Merindol N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11555508 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature