Antiviral and Immunomodulatory Effects of Pelargonium sidoides DC. Root Extract EPs® 7630 in SARS-CoV-2-Infected Human Lung Cells.

ABSTRACT: Treatment options for COVID-19 are currently limited. Drugs reducing both viral loads and SARS-CoV-2-induced inflammatory responses would be ideal candidates for COVID-19 therapeutics. Previous in vitro and clinical studies suggest that the proprietary Pelargonium sidoides DC. root extract EPs 7630 has antiviral and immunomodulatory properties, limiting symptom severity and disease duration of infections with several upper respiratory viruses. Here we assessed if EPs 7630 affects SARS-CoV-2 propagation and the innate immune response in the human lung cell line Calu-3. In direct comparison to other highly pathogenic CoV (SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV), SARS-CoV-2 growth was most efficiently inhibited at a non-toxic concentration with an IC50 of 1.61 μg/ml. Particularly, the cellular entr

SUBMITTER: Papies J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8573200 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature