Pharmacological Activities of Fingerroot Extract and Its Phytoconstituents Against SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Golden Syrian Hamsters

Abstract

Background

The outbreak of COVID-19 has led to the suffering of people around the world, with an inaccessibility of specific and effective medication. Fingerroot extract, which showed in vitro anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity, could alleviate the deficiency of antivirals and reduce the burden of health systems.

Aim of Study

In this study, we conducted an experiment in SARS-CoV-2-infected hamsters to determine the efficacy of fingerroot extract in vivo.

Materials and Methods

The infected hamsters were orally administered with vehicle control, fingerroot extract 300 or 1000 mg/kg, or favipiravir 1000 mg/kg at 48 h post-infection for 7 consecutive days. The hamsters (n = 12 each group) were sacrificed at day 2, 4 and 8 post-infection to collect the plasma and lung tissues for analyses of viral output, lung histology and lung concentration of panduratin A.

Results

All animals in treatment groups reported no death, while one hamster in the control group died on day 3 post-infection. All treatments significantly reduced lung pathophysiology and inflammatory mediators, PGE₂ and IL-6, compared to the control group. High levels of panduratin A were found in both the plasma and lung of infected animals.

Conclusion

Fingerroot extract was shown to be a potential of reducing lung inflammation and cytokines in hamsters. Further studies of the full pharmacokinetics and toxicity are required before entering into clinical development.

Keywords:

• Boesenbergia rotunda
• Zingiberaceae
• panduratin A
• SARS-CoV-2
• COVID-19
• hamster

View correction statement:

Pharmacological Activities of Fingerroot Extract and Its Phytoconstituents Against SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Golden Syrian Hamsters [Corrigendum]

Abbreviations

Calu-3 cells, lung adenocarcinoma epithelial cells from human; COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019; DMEM, Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium; DMSO, dimethyl sulfoxide; FBS, fetal bovine serum; FFA, focus forming assay; FFPE, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded; H&E, hematoxylin and eosin; IC₅₀, inhibitory concentration; IHS, immunohistochemistry; IL-6, interleukin-6; NO, nitric oxide; PBS, phosphate buffered saline; PFU, plaque-forming unit; PGE₂, prostaglandin E2; SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor-α; Vero E6 cells, kidney epithelial cells of Cercopithecus aethiops.

Data Sharing Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. Some data may not be made available because of privacy or ethical restrictions.

Ethics Approval

The animal study protocol was approved by the Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University-Institute Animal Care and Use Committee (approval no. MUVS-2020-07-26; approval date Oct 01, 2020).

Acknowledgments

We express gratitude to the Excellence Centre for Drug Discovery for providing fingerroot extract. We express our utmost gratitude to the Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, for providing favipiravir.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University (CF63010 to Somchai Chutipongtanate and Phisit Khemawoot), the National Research Council of Thailand (to Suradej Hongeng) and the 60th Year Supreme Reign of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej Scholarship, Mahidol University (to Teetat Kongratanapasert). This project is supported by Mahidol University (Reinventing University Program), and the Office of National Higher Education Science Research and Innovation Policy Council (B17F640004 to Somchai Chutipongtanate).