Evaluating the in Vitro Efficacy of Quassinoids from Eurycoma longifolia and Eurycoma harmandiana against Common Cold Human Coronavirus OC43 and SARS-CoV-2 Using In-Cell Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay

  • J Nat Prod. 2022 Dec 23;85(12):2779-2788. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.2c00736.
Rattanathorn Choonong  1 ,  Sasiporn Ruangdachsuwan  2 ,  Theeraporn Churod  2 ,  Somnuek Palabodeewat  2 ,  Surat Punyahathaikul  2 ,  Sanjira Juntarapornchai  2 ,  Kunjimas Ketsuwan  2 ,  Jukrapun Komaikul  2 ,  Promsin Masrinoul  2 ,  Tharita Kitisripanya  3 ,  Thaweesak Juengwatanatrakul  4 ,  Gorawit Yusakul  5 ,  Tripetch Kanchanapoom  1 ,  Waraporn Putalun  1
Affiliations
  • 1. Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
  • 2. Center for Vaccine Development, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand.
  • 3. Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
  • 4. Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani 34190, Thailand.
  • 5. School of Pharmacy, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand.
PMID: 36399766 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.2c00736
Abstract

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) Infection, has become a pandemic and public health crisis. SARS-CoV-2 and the seasonal common cold coronavirus (HCoV-OC43) belong to the beta genus of human coronaviruses (HCoVs). In-cell ELISA assays were performed using HCoV-OC43 and SARS-CoV-2 and evaluated the Antiviral activity of herbal Plants. Eurycoma longifolia (EL) and Eurycoma harmandiana (EH) roots (antipyretic properties) and their constituent quassinoids, especially chaparrinone and eurycomalactone, showed potent anti-HCoV-OC43 and SARS-CoV-2 activities, and the low IC50 values of the mentioned constituents were observed in the range of 0.32-0.51 μM. Eurycomanone and 13β,21-dihydroeurycomanone may contribute to the Antiviral activity of EL, whereas chaparrinone is the major and active Antiviral constituent of EH root. The content of quassinoids, β-carboline, and canthin-6-one Alkaloids and the cytotoxicity profile of EL and EH extracts were varied regarding extraction Solvents. The boiled water and 50% EtOH extractions of both Plants were less toxic than those with 95% EtOH as the extraction solvent. Our research suggests that quassinoids, which come from EL and EH roots and are anti-coronavirus compounds, are potential treatment candidates for COVID-19 and merit further in vivo investigations.