Selective Control by <i>Pistacia vera</i> L. and Its Carotenoid Zeaxanthin on SARS-CoV-2 Virus.

ABSTRACT: Since the onset of the COVID-19 (COronaVIrus Disease 19) pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 has exhibited a high transmission rate, further enhanced by new variants able to better adapt to humans. Addressing this issue has been challenging due to viral resistance and side effects associated with antiviral drugs and vaccines. As a result, there has been a growing interest in plant-derived compounds with antiviral properties. Our study revealed that pistachio extracts significantly inhibited SARS-CoV-2 viral entry. Employing pseudotyped particles bearing the S protein of SARS-CoV-2, we demonstrated that treatment with pistachio extracts inhibited binding of alpha (α) and omicron (ο) SARS-CoV-2 variants. Furthermore, our study revealed that the pistachio carotenoid zeaxanthin exhibited a different inhibito

SUBMITTER: Pennisi R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11855127 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature