Curcumin inhibits in vitro SARS-CoV-2 infection in Vero E6 cells through multiple antiviral mechanisms

Due to the scarcity of therapeutic approaches for COVID-19, we investigated the antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin against SARS-CoV-2 using in vitro models. The cytotoxicity of curcumin was evaluated using MTT assay in Vero E6 cells. The antiviral activity of this compound agains...

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Autores:
Marín Palma, Damariz
Tabares Guevara, Jorge
Zapata Cardona, María Isabel
Flórez Álvarez, Lizdany
Yepes, Lina M.
Rugeles López, María Teresa
Zapata Builes, Wildeman
Hernández López, Juan Carlos
Taborda, Natalia Andrea
Tipo de recurso:
Article of investigation
Fecha de publicación:
2021
Institución:
Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia
Repositorio:
Repositorio UCC
Idioma:
OAI Identifier:
oai:repository.ucc.edu.co:20.500.12494/44426
Acceso en línea:
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12494/44426
Palabra clave:
Curcumin
Antiviral
COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2
Immune response
Inflammation
D614G strain
Delta variant
Rights
openAccess
License
Atribución
Description
Summary:Due to the scarcity of therapeutic approaches for COVID-19, we investigated the antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin against SARS-CoV-2 using in vitro models. The cytotoxicity of curcumin was evaluated using MTT assay in Vero E6 cells. The antiviral activity of this compound against SARS-CoV-2 was evaluated using four treatment strategies (i. pre–post infection treatment, ii. co-treatment, iii. pre-infection, and iv. post-infection). The D614G strain and Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 were used, and the viral titer was quantified by plaque assay. The anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) using qPCR and ELISA. By pre–post infection treatment, Curcumin (10 µg/mL) exhibited antiviral effect of 99% and 99.8% against DG614 strain and Delta variant, respectively. Curcumin also inhibited D614G strain by pre-infection and post-infection treatment. In addition, curcumin showed a virucidal effect against D614G strain and Delta variant. Finally, the pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8) released by PBMCs triggered by SARS-CoV-2 were decreased after treatment with curcumin. Our results suggest that curcumin affects the SARS-CoV-2 replicative cycle and exhibits virucidal effect with a variant/strain independent antiviral effect and immune-modulatory properties. This is the first study that showed a combined (antiviral/anti-inflammatory) effect of curcumin during SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, additional studies are required to define its use as a treatment for the COVID-19.