article · PLoS ONE
Researchers have developed EGYVIR, a herbal formulation combining black pepper extract and curcumin extract, designed to act as an antiviral and immunomodulatory agent against SARS-CoV-2. The extract targets two critical phases seen in severe viral illness. Laboratory investigations using Huh-7 cell lines demonstrate that EGYVIR exhibits a direct virucidal effect against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. Additionally, computational and in vitro tests indicate that the mixture antagonises the NF-kβ signalling pathway by inhibiting the nuclear translocation of NF-kβ p50. By disrupting this pathway, EGYVIR suppresses the release of inflammatory mediators including interleukin-6 and tumour necrosis factor alpha. This reduction in key inflammatory markers suggests the compound has the capacity to dampen the destructive cytokine storm associated with severe coronavirus infections.
Severe coronavirus infections often trigger an uncontrolled immune reaction known as a cytokine storm, which can lead to life-threatening tissue damage. Discovering plant-derived treatments that combine direct antiviral activity with the ability to suppress harmful inflammatory responses provides a dual approach to managing viral disease, helping to identify potential therapeutic candidates from widely available natural sources.
This work represents very early-stage research, having been evaluated solely through in silico modelling and in vitro cell line experiments. The findings could interest pharmaceutical developers and nutraceutical companies seeking botanical candidates for respiratory or viral therapeutics. Substantial additional preclinical safety profiling, formulation optimisation, and clinical trials would be required before any therapeutic product could be considered for practical healthcare applications.
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Due to the challenges for developing vaccines in devastating pandemic situations of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), developing and screening of novel antiviral agents are peremptorily demanded. Herein, we developed EGYVIR as a potent immunomodulatory herbal extract with promising antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2. It constitutes of a combination of black pepper extract with curcumin extract. The antiviral effect of EGYVIR extract is attributed to the two key phases of the disease in severe cases. First, the inhibition of the nuclear translocation of NF-kβ p50, attenuating the SARS-CoV-2 infection-associated cytokine storm. Additionally, the EGYVIR extract has an in vitro virucidal effect for SARS-CoV-2. The in vitro study of EGYVIR extract against SARS-CoV-2 on Huh-7 cell lines, revealed the potential role of NF-kβ/TNFα/IL-6 during the infection process. EGYVIR antagonizes the NF-kβ pathway in-silico and in-vitro studies. Consequently, it has the potential to hinder the release of IL-6 and TNFα, decreasing the production of essential cytokines storm elements.
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DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241739
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