3. Pre-Infection Inhibitors, Their Proposed Mechanisms, and Their Potency against SARS-CoV-2
Pre-infection inhibitors primarily act against viruses before the internalization phase, such as by blocking the viral attachment and entry into host cells. Moreover, antivirals that target the pre-infection stage might alter the cellular endocytic mechanisms, change the environment conditions (pH) or interact with the cellular receptor and proteolytic enzymes to prevent internalization and replication of the virus
[53][54]. Pre-infection inhibitors are usually used as prophylactics to prevent the development of severe viral disease, reduce the risk of disease transmission, or modulate the immune system before exposure to pathogens.
Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) found in tea extracts was reported to bind to the RBD of extracellular SARS-CoV-2 directly, thus preventing the interaction of the virus with host receptor ACE2 and subsequent viral entry
[55]. In further corroboration of the findings above, EGCG in green tea displayed a dose-dependent anti-entry effect against pseudotyped lentiviral vectors carrying SARS-CoV-2 S protein with an IC
50 value of 2.47 μg/mL. In live viruses, EGCG could inhibit the viral plaque formation of SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV. Using the SARS-CoV-2 vitronectin ELISA kit, researchers further reported that EGCG could simultaneously bind to the RBD of SARS-CoV-2 and compete with ACE2 binding, efficiently blocking the recruitment of these viruses to host cell surfaces
[56]. A Phase 2 randomized clinical trial (NCT04446065) is currently ongoing to evaluate the prophylactic effect of Previfenon, a drug consisting of EGCG, in high-risk healthcare workers. The primary and secondary endpoints are the event of COVID-19 cases and the rate of positive cases for IgM and IgG anti-SARS-CoV-2.
When highly sulfated polysaccharides were screened using surface plasmon resonance (SPR), RPI-27, RPI-28, fucoidans, and heparin could bind to the S-protein of SARS-CoV-2
[57]. Among all the polysaccharides tested, RPI-27, a high-molecular-weight branched polysaccharide, was identified as the most potent antiviral against SARS-CoV-2 with IC
50 of 83 nM, more effective than remdesivir
[57]. Other sulfated polysaccharides such as heparin, TriS-heparin, and non-anticoagulant low-molecular-weight heparin (NACH) also showed promising antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2. An in silico study demonstrated that heparin could bind to the S-protein RBD (PDB ID: 6VW1), suggesting that sulfated polysaccharides might target the entry stage of SARS-CoV-2
[57]. Another study also reported that marine sulfated polysaccharides extracted from
Stichopus japonicus, brown and red algae, showed dose-dependent antiviral activities against SARS-CoV-2. Among these polysaccharides, sea cucumber sulfated polysaccharide (SCSP) extracted from
Stichopus japonicus was identified as the most potent polysaccharide with an IC
50 of 9.10 μg/mL. SCSP could bind to the S protein carried by the pseudotyped virus and prevent its entry into the host cells
[58].
Various bioactive compounds have been identified in
Vitis Vvinifera leaf extract, and most of them were derivatives of quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol, apigenin, isorhamnetin, myricetin, chrysoeriol, biochanin, isookanin, and scutellarein
[59].
Vitis Vinifera leaf extract was reported to have a virucidal effect against enveloped DNA viruses, HSV-1, and RNA viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2. Cotreatment of the virus and this extract to the Vero cells showed potent viral inhibition, suggesting that it might block virus attachment and thus prevent entry
[59]. Temperature shift assays further confirmed this projection, and gene expression study demonstrated that
Vitis Vinifera leaf extract strongly reduced the S protein expression in SARS-CoV-2-infected cells
[59].
HIDROX, containing 40% of hydroxytyrosol (HT), is a commercial product produced by the olive oil industry and is used as a natural product to improve health. The anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity of HIDROX and HT was reported to be virucidal against the extracellular virus in a time and dose-dependent manner
[60]. Additionally, by comparing the efficiency of their virucidal effects, HIDROX was found to be more potent than pure HT. In addition, both HICROX and HT were suggested to alter the structure of the SARS-CoV-2 S protein, which was reflected in the molecular weight increase in S1, S2, and RBD subunits when evaluated in western blotting. This may cause the S proteins to aggregate, leading to the virucidal effects observed in cells. On the other hand, HIDROX-containing cream also had virucidal activity against SARS-CoV-2, indicating that HT-rich olive extract could be applied to the skin for protective purposes to reduce transmission of COVID-19
[60].
Water extract of
Prunella vilgaris (NhPV) was reported to inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 S protein-mediated virus entry
[61]. It was observed that NhPV could hinder the entry of SARS-CoV-2 pseudotyped HIV that carries full-length S protein (IC
50 = 30 μg/mL) or mutated S protein, D614, that enhanced virus infectivity. Time-of-drug addition assays revealed that NhPV treatment worked best when cells were pre-treated with NhPV 1 h before viral infection. ELISA assay further confirms that NhPV could bind to ACE2 and block the interaction of viral S protein to the ACE2 receptor, thus preventing viral entry. A combination of NhPV and anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody (SAD-S35) enhanced the blocking effect, so similar efficiencies could be achieved by reducing the compound concentrations. Moreover, 50 μg/mL of NhPV could prevent the CPE induced by wild-type SARS-CoV-2. By titrating the production of viral progeny, researchers also reported that 100 μg/mL of NhPV could completely prevent virus infection
[61].
The mixture of
Agrimonia Pilosa (AP) and
Galla rhois (RG) in a ratio of 6:4 (APRG64) was reported to inhibit the formation of SARS-CoV-2 plaques by blocking SARS-CoV-2 entry into host cells, and their antiviral effects were comparable to remdesivir and chloroquine phosphate
[62]. Ursolic acid, quercetin, and 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-β-d-glucose were identified as active compounds responsible for the anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity of APRG64. They significantly reduced the S protein in cell supernatants and could inhibit SARS-CoV-2 propagation. A molecular docking study showed that ursolic acid exhibited the highest binding affinity towards SARS-CoV-2 S RBD and the B.1.1.7 lineage S RBD with a binding energy of −9.5 kcal/mol and −9.0 kcal/mol, respectively
[62].
Echinaforce, an alcoholic extract of
Echinacea purpurea plants, has been previously evaluated for its benefit in treating the common cold and other respiratory tract infections
[63][64][65][66]. Echinaforce was observed to have irreversible virucidal activity against HCoV-229E in viral infected pseudostratified respiratory epithelial cell culture, which better mimics the in vivo lung model. Moreover, Echinaforce also exhibited virucidal activity against MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2, with complete inactivation after 50 μg/mL Echinaforce treatment
[67]. The antiviral effect of Echinacea in clinical trial (NCT05002179) against respiratory viruses, including coronavirus (229E, HKU1, OC43), was reviewed, and the antiviral effect was hypothesis to be inclusive of SARS-CoV-2
[68]. Due to its promising prophylactic effect, a phase 4 clinical trial (NCT04999098) is currently recruiting to evaluate the shedding effect of Enchinaforce against COVID-19. Different forms of Enchinaforce, including Forte tablets, chewable tablets, and tincture, will be introduced to COVID-19-positive participants (Cq < 27), and the differences in Cq value (primary endpoint) comparing pre- and post-Enchinaforce treatment will be evaluated.
Notably, there have yet to be effective FDA-approved antivirals targeting the SARS-CoV-2 pre-infection stage. Although the previously established entry inhibitor hydroxychloroquine has shown promising in vitro antiviral activity, it has not shown any meaningful in vivo benefits in both animal models and humans
[69][70][71][72][73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80][81]. Furthermore, high doses and extended regimens were difficult to achieve due to drug-related severe adverse effects of these drugs
[69][71][72][73][74]. Moreover, umifenovir, an antiviral proposed to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 viral entry, has shown some clinical efficacy but is of uncertain clinical importance due to a lack of high-quality evidence and contradicting findings from different clinical studies. Therefore, further investigation into antivirals targeting the pre-infection stage of SARS-CoV-2 is still warranted.
4. Post-Infection Inhibitors, Their Proposed Mechanisms, and Their Potency against SARS-CoV-2
Post-infection inhibitors are antivirals that work after a person has been infected with a virus. An effective post-infection drug has the potential to reduce the severity and duration of symptoms and may reduce the risk of complications from the infection. Post-infection antiviral treatment is provided by the physician, specifically for the virus causing the infection, after diagnosis. A significant portion of low-income countries’ populations have been infected with SARS-CoV-2. Thus, effective antivirals for COVID-19 targeting the post-infection stage are essential to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 and mitigate the disease’s impact on the poor.
Shuanghuanglian preparations are TCM extracted from
Lonicera japonica,
Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, and
Forsythia suspense and are widely used to treat respiratory tract infections
[82][83]. Several independent studies revealed that Shuanghuanglian preparations and their active components, baicalin, and baicalein, exhibited potent antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 by inhibiting the activity of its 3CL
pro and PL
pro and its RdRp
[84][85]. Due to the high amount of baicalin being present within Shuanghuanglian preparations and almost similar IC
50 of Shuanghuanglian preparations (1.83 to 6.14 μM) with pure baicalin (6.41 μM), it was believed that baicalin is the main component that led to the proteolytic inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 PL
pro. The protein–interactions were further evaluated in isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) measurements as well as electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), and it was observed that baicalin and baicalein both had a high binding affinity with SARS-CoV-2 PL
pro with K
d of 11.50 and 4.03 μM in ITC and 12.73 and 1.40 µM in ESI-MS, respectively. The crystal structure of SARS-CoV-2 PL
pro complexed with baicalein was further investigated using X-ray crystallography. Results showed that baicalein acted as a shield, interacting with S1/S2 subsites and the oxyanion loop, thus preventing the substrate from binding with the catalytic site of SARS-CoV-2 PL
pro [84]. Additionally, baicalein and baicalin were reported to be potent inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 RdRp. When the SARS-CoV-2 polymerase complex was expressed and purified, the ability of the polymerase to extend the RNA template (14-Mer RNA) in the presence of baicalein and baicalin was investigated. As expected, extended RNA products were reduced significantly in the presence of non-toxic doses of baicalein and baicalin. Molecular docking analysis also confirmed that baicalein and baicalin strongly bind to the RNA polymerase of SARS-CoV-2 with a binding energy of −8.7 and−7.8 kcal/mol, respectively. Therefore, unlike any nucleoside analogs, baicalein and baicalin do not pose a potential risk of host mutational activity, as they directly bind and inhibit SARS-CoV-2 RdRp transcriptional activity. Notably, a pharmacokinetic study in rhesus monkeys revealed that, despite the low oral bioavailability of baicalein, this compound was rapidly converted to the 7-O-βglucopyranuronoside metabolite baicalin. Both compounds demonstrated relatively long half-lives as well as Cmax values (2.3 μM and 30.7 μM, respectively) that were higher than the IC
50 values (1.2 μM and 6.2 μM, respectively) reported in Calu-3 human lung cells
[85], suggesting that less frequent dosage may be needed to maintain therapeutic plasma concentration
[86].
A natural extract of
A. paniculate and its main bioactive compound, andrographolide, were reported to reduce the viral progeny production in plaque assays (IC
50 = 0.036 μg/mL and 0.034 μM, respectively) and in high-content imaging using an anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody. The IC
50 value of
A. paniculate extract and andrographolide using foci reduction is lower than remdesivir (IC
50 = 0.086 μg/mL), indicating that they are promising treatment for use against COVID-19
[87]. Furthermore, an in silico molecular docking study suggested that andrographolide might target the main protease of SARS-CoV-2, M
pro, and absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) profile prediction showed good pharmacodynamic properties
[88]. To further evaluate the interaction of andrographolide and M
pro, researchers expressed and purified 2019-nCoV M
pro and SARS-CoV M
pro and reported that andrographolide could form covalent linkages and inhibited proteolytic activities of M
pro with IC
50 of 15.05 and 5.0 μM, respectively. In addition, andrographolide could dock into the catalytic pockets of M
pro with a binding affinity from −7.85 to 9.72 kcal/mol
[89]. A phase 3 clinical trial (NCT05019326) is currently recruiting 3060 participants to evaluate the efficacy of Andrographis paniculate in asymptomatic COVID-19 with a primary end point defined as the requirement of hospitalization.
Naringenin is a flavone found in many citrus plants and has various biological functions such as antiviral, antibacterial, and anticancer
[90]. Recently, naringenin was identified as a potent antiviral agent against SARS-CoV-2 M
Pro (PDB entry: 6w63) from HTVS of 8793 natural compounds. Naringenin and other lead compounds selected from HTVS were reported to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 M
Pro in vitro using enzyme inhibition assays (>75% inhibition) at 100 µM. Based on the cell-based antiviral assays, only naringenin showed moderate anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity with IC
50 of 28.347 μg/mL and SI of 6.3. The structure–activity relationship of naringenin, and its closely related derivative, eriodyctiol, revealed that naringenin (7-OH position) forms H-bonds with Gln189 and Thr190 residues, and its interaction with His41 residues might explain its potent antiviral activity in targeting SARS-CoV-2 M
pro in vitro. The molecular properties of naringenin also agreed with Lipinski’s rule. They showed a good score for a topological polar surface area (TPSA) value of <140 Å, indicating that naringenin might have good oral bioavailability, intestinal permeability, and absorption
[91]. Parallel with these findings, an in silico study, using molecular docking simulations, molecular mechanics Poisson–Boltzmann surface area (MM-PBSA), density functional theory (DFT), and binding energy analysis supported the interaction of naringenin at the active site of SARS-CoV-2 M
pro [92].
Resversatrol and pterostilbene were reported to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 progeny production in Vero cells with an IC
50 of 66 and 19 μM, respectively. These two compounds were also reported to have long-lasting antiviral effects against SARS-CoV-2. They maintained their antiviral activation in cell cultures up to 40 hpi, equivalent to approximately five rounds of viral replications. Time-of-drug-addition assays demonstrated that these compounds solely targeted the viral replication stage but not the entry stage, nor did they have virucidal activity. Additionally, the post-infection antiviral effect of RES was also observed in primary human bronchial epithelial cells cultured under air–liquid interphase (ALI) conditions
[93]. Another study also showed evidence that RES could inhibit SARS-CoV-2 (IC
50 = 10.66 μM) and HCoV-229E (IC
50 = 4.6 μM) at the post-infection stage with reduced cytotoxicity (CC
50 = 210 μM)
[94]. A cotreatment with silent information regulator T1 (SIRT1) signaling antagonist, sirtinol, and RES attenuated the inhibitory effect of RES. It promoted the replication of the virus, suggesting that RES might inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection via the SIRT1 pathway
[95]. A randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial (NCT04400890) reported that resveratrol could lower the incidence of hospitalization, emergency visit, and pneumonia in mild COVID-19 outpatients
[96]. However, this clinical trial was limited by a small sample size and low incidence of the primary endpoint (COVID-19 hospitalization). A larger trial is currently undergoing to determine the benefit of resversatrol for COVID-19 and the long-lasting side effects caused by SARS-CoV-2 (post-COVID-19). In a retrospective study NCT04666753, resveratrol was formulated with other natural compounds, including selenium yeast, cholecalciferol, ascorbic acid, ferulic acid, spirulina, N-acetylcysteine and more, to test against SARS-CoV-2 by measuring the clinical symptoms’ duration (primary endpoint). Since resveratrol was reported to prevent liver fibrosis by inhibiting the Akt/NF-κB pathways
[97], and COVID-19 causes prolonged fibrotic damage to the lung, a randomized clinical trial (NCT04799743) is currently recruiting to evaluate the anti-fibrotic therapeutic effects of resveratrol on discharged COVID-19 patients.
5. Multi-Stage Inhibitors, Their Proposed Mechanisms, and Their Potency against SARS-CoV-2
Antiviral compounds that can inhibit early and late stages of virus infection are preferable as they have the potential to target multiple stages of the virus life cycle, thus preventing viral adaptation and the emergence of drug-resistant viruses. SARS-CoV-2 is highly mutagenic due to the inherent error-prone nature of RNA replication, and many novel variants of SARS-CoV-2 have emerged. These new variants might confer resistance to antivirals that target a single stage of the virus life cycle. Therefore, the search for SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors that target both the pre- and post-infection stages is crucial in reducing the likelihood of drug resistance.
Chingguan Yihau (NRICM101) is a TCM formulated in Taiwan and that was used in clinical settings for COVID-19 patients
[98]. Patients were administered 100 mL three times daily 30 min after a meal. Clinical data showed that patients with the underlying disease who showed no improvement after 21 days of hospitalizations had benefited from NRICM101 treatment without adverse effects
[98]. A large-scale observational study involving 51,000 participants was carried out to evaluate the outcome of NRICM101 on SARS-CoV-2 infection. Participants were subjected to 2–4 times intervention of NRISM101 daily, and the clinical trial’s primary endpoint (NCT04664049) was achieving a negative COVID-19 test result and being free from COVID-19 symptoms within 2 months. The trial has been completed, but the outcomes are still pending. In vitro findings from surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis indicated that NRICM101 could bind to the RBD protein dose-dependently. At the same time, ELISA showed that NRICM101 inhibited S protein from binding to the ACE2 receptor with an IC
50 value of 0.41 mg/mL. Additionally, NRICM101 could also inhibit the 3CL
pro enzymatic activity with an IC
50 value of 0.22 mg/mL. In addition, NRICM101 treatment also reduced the growth of SARS-CoV-2 in terms of viral protein expression (IC
50 = 0.28 mg/mL) and plaque formation. Besides its promising antiviral activity, NRICM101 could also reduce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-6, and TNF-α in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated alveolar macrophages with an IC
50 value of 0.42 and 1.18 mg/mL, respectively
[98]. When antiviral studies were performed on the individual herb of NRICM101, researchers reported that the
Scutellaria baicalensis component was responsible for its effective anti-3CL
pro activity (100%). Other components, such as
Schizonepeta tenuifolia,
Morus alba,
Magnolia officinalis, and
Mata and
Mentha haplocalyx in NRICM101, effectively blocked the binding of the S protein to ACE2 (>70%). In addition,
Scutellaria baicalensis and
Houttuynia cordata with 20-fold dilution could inhibit IL-6 and TNF-α production, and
Scutellaria baicalensis was able to inhibit cytokine production at 40-fold dilution
[98]. Another component of NRICM101,
Mentha haplocalyx, the natural source of Chinese peppermint, has gained some attention as an antiviral agent against SARS-CoV-2. It was used as traditional medicine for minor ailments
[99]. The essential oil extracted from peppermint leaves could improve muscle pain and itching or be used as a fragrance
[100]. Using a cell-based HTS assay to screen 190 traditional herbal medicines, researchers identify
Mentha haplocalyx extract as an effective anti-SARS-CoV-2 compound in vitro and in vivo. Along with
Mentha haplocalyx,
Ganoderma lucidum extracts could also reduce the CPE of SARS-CoV-2 in Vero cells at 960-fold dilution. In the hamster model, oral administration of
M. haplocalyx extracts at 200 mg/kg/day for three consecutive days after viral infection showed promising antiviral activity and significantly reduced lung viral titres
[101].
Isorhamnetin is a flavonoid extracted from sea buckthorn or
Hippophae rhamnoides L. The extract from the berries of this plant was reported to have anticancer, antiviral, anti-diabetic, and immune regulatory activities
[102][103][104][105]. In one of the studies, the active compound of sea buckthorn, isorhamnetin, was tested against the SARS-CoV-2 S pseudotyped virus in vitro. It was observed that isorhamnetin could block SARS-CoV-2 S pseudotyped virus entry into the cells expressing ACE by 47.7% at a non-toxic concentration of 50 μM. Quercetin, another component of sea buckthorn, was similarly evaluated, but there was no significant reduction in viral entry. Using SPR analysis, isorhamnetin showed an affinity towards the immobilized ACE recombinant protein, and molecular docking analysis further proved that isorhamnetin could bind to ACE2 at K353, E37, and H34 residues
[106]. In addition, high throughput virtual screening (HTVS) of naturally occurring phytochemicals also showed that, along with other flavonoids, isorhamnetin could interact with the S2 domain of the SARS-CoV-2 S protein with the binding energy of −8.3 Kcal/mol
[107]. On the other hand, various derivatives of isorhamnetin from
Salvadora persica were reported to have a strong binding affinity towards SARS-CoV-2 M
pro with a binding orientation similar to the positive control N3, which binds to the Cys–His catalytic dyad located between domains I and II of SARS-CoV-2 M
pro. Structure–activity relationship analysis revealed the presence of disaccharide rutinose (α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-6)-β-D-glucopyranose) at position carbon no. 3 flavonoids helped to enhance the binding stability in the N3 binding site of SARS-CoV-2 M
pro [108]. Since these studies showed that isorhamnetin could interact with host protein (ACE2 receptor), viral structural protein (S protein), and a viral non-structural protein (SARS-CoV-2 M
pro), isorhamnetin should be considered for further study to develop it into a potent antiviral drug that could target multiple stages of the viral life-cycle, thus preventing the replication of SARS-CoV-2.
Ionophore antibiotics are a family of natural compounds produced by microorganisms, which are well known for their antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria
[109][110]. In addition, the antiviral activity of ionophore antibiotics against HIV, influenza virus, ZIKV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV was also reported
[111][112][113]. Recently, researchers screened 11 different naturally occurring polyether ionophores for their potential to prevent the CPE caused by SARS-CoV-2 in Vero E6 cells that overexpressed TMPRSS2. Ionophore antibiotics such as narasin, salinomycin, and nanchangmycin exhibited >100-fold selectivity. Surprisingly, two compounds, maduramycin and X-206, showed a selective index of 313 and 586, respectively, higher than the remdesivir control (SI ≥ 67). Compound X-206 displayed significant antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 by reducing CPE (IC
50 = 14 nM), viral RNA copy number, viral S proteins, and viral plaque formation by SARS-CoV-2. Time-of-addition assays revealed that X-206 achieved approximately two-fold log reduction in viral progeny at all time points from 4 h pre-infection to 8 h post-infection. Based on morphological profiling, which provided bioactivity fingerprints, X-206 had a different mechanism of action than the control lysosomotropic hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). However, the molecular mechanism of this compound has not been elucidated, and further experiments should be conducted to discover the mode of action of X-206
[114]. The ionophore antibiotics, salinomycin and niclosamide, were observed to inhibit syncytia formation, which indicates that this is caused by the fusion of cells induced by viral infection. It was observed that niclosamide and salinomycin exhibited cell protection effects against SARS-CoV-2 with IC
50 of 0.34 and 0.22 μM, respectively. Additionally, salinomycin and niclosamide also inhibited viral replications in respiratory Calu-3 cells. Furthermore, a low concentration of 1 μM of niclosamide blocked the transmembrane member 16 (TMEM16) chloride channel. It significantly attenuated the effect of spontaneous calcium transients in the presence of the S protein, suggesting that ionophore antibiotics might block intracellular calcium release to prevent syncytia formation
[115]. Unfortunately, a small scale (73 participants) phase 2 randomized clinical trial (NCT04399356) reported that niclosamide intervention did not shorten the symptom duration of mild to moderate COVID-19 compared to the placebo group
[116]. A larger (1200 participants) phase 4 randomized clinical trial (NCT05087381) is currently ongoing in order to further evaluate the benefit of niclosamide for COVID-19 early treatment.
Oleandrin is one of the bioactive compounds found in
Nerium oleander extract and was identified as a unique lipid-soluble cardiac glycoside that acted on the Na/K ATPases pump to enhance heart contraction in heart failure patients. It was also reported to be used in treating dermatological diseases and cancers
[117][118][119]. Recently, oleandrin was reported to be a potent inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2. When oleandrin was present before (prophylactic) and during the whole viral life cycle, it could completely reduce the plaque formation of SARS-CoV-2 by 4 log
10, with IC
50 values of 11.98 and 7.07 ng/mL for 24 and 48 hpi, respectively. Additionally, when oleandrin was added 24 h post-infection, where extensive viral replication had already occurred, oleandrin could still maintain its therapeutic effect. In the hamster model, oleander extract did not cause any toxicity effects regarding body weight, organ lesions, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. In vivo, the prophylactic efficacy of oleander extract against SARS-CoV-2 showed a significant reduction in viral loads in nasal turbinates after 3 days post-infection. From day 3 onwards, the viral titre was below the detection limit and, after four days of treatment, the virus was completely cleared
[120]. Besides SARS-CoV-2, oleandrin was also reported to be a potent inhibitor of HCoV-OC43 when CPE (IC
50 = 26 mM) and viral titre (2–3 log10 reduction) were measured as the end point
[121].