Journal Article

In vitro efficacy of Artemisia extracts against SARS-CoV-2

Trimpert, Jakob, Gilmore, Kerry, Nie, Chuanxiong, Moon, Sooyeon, Seeberger, Peter H., Haag, Rainer, Kaufer, Benedikt B.

2021

Overview

Background Traditional medicines based on herbal extracts have been proposed as affordable treatments for patients suffering from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Teas and drinks containing extracts of Artemisia annua and Artemisia afra have been widely used in Africa in efforts to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection and fight COVID-19. Methods The plant extracts and Covid-Organics drink produced in Madagascar were tested for plaque reduction using both feline coronavirus and SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. Their cytotoxicities were also investigated. Results Several extracts as well as Covid-Organics inhibited SARS-CoV-2 and FCoV infection at concentrations that did not affect cell viability. Conclusions Some plant extracts show inhibitory activity against FCoV and SARS-CoV-2. However, it remains unclear whether peak plasma concentrations in humans can reach levels needed to inhibit viral infection following consumption of teas or Covid-Organics. Clinical studies are required to evaluate the utility of these drinks for COVID-19 prevention or treatment of patients.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: Africa / Antibodies / Antivirals / Artemisia / Artemisia afra / Artemisia annua / Biomedical and Life Sciences / Biomedicine / Cell culture / Cell viability / Clinical trials / Coronaviruses / COVID-19 / COVID-19 infection / COVID-19 vaccines / Covid-organics / Cytotoxicity / Drug dosages / Feline coronavirus / Feline coronavirus (FCoV) / Health aspects / Herbal medicine / Infections / Madagascar / Malaria / Materia medica, Vegetable / Pandemics / Patients / Plant extracts / Positive-strand RNA viruses / Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 / Short Report / Solvents / Virology / Viruses