Virucidal antiviral activity of Maytenus quadrangulata extract against Mayaro virus : evidence for the presence of catechins.
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2023
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Ethnopharmacological relevance: Mayaro virus (MAYV) is an arbovirus endemic to the Amazon region, which
comprises the states of the North and Midwest region of Brazil and encompasses the largest tropical forest in the
world, the Amazon Forest. The confirmation of its potential transmission by Aedes aegypti and recent cases in
Brazil, mainly in large centers in the northern region, led to the classification of Mayaro fever as an emerging
disease. Traditional medicine is commonly used to treat various diseases, mainly by local riverside populations.
Some species of the genus Maytenus, which have similar morphologies, are popularly used to treat infections and
inflammations. In this context, our research group has studied and confirmed the antiviral activity of several
plant-derived compounds. However, several species of this same genus have not been studied and therefore
deserve attention.
Aim of the study: This study aimed to demonstrate the effects of ethyl acetate extracts of leaves (LAE) and
branches (TAE) of Maytenus quadrangulata against MAYV.
Materials and methods: Mammalian cells (Vero cells) were used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of the extracts. After
cell infection by MAYV and the treatment with the extracts, we evaluated the selectivity index (SI), the virucidal
effect, viral adsorption and internalization, and the effect on viral gene expression. The antiviral action was
confirmed by quantifying the viral genome using RT-qPCR and by analyzing the effect on virus yield in infected
cells. The treatment was performed based on the effective concentration protective for 50% of the infected cells
(EC50).
Results: The leaves (LAE; EC50 12.0 μg/mL) and branches (TAE; EC50 101.0 μg/mL) extracts showed significative
selectivity against the virus, with SI values of 79.21 and 9.91, respectively, which were considered safe.
Phytochemical analysis revealed that the antiviral action was associated with the presence of catechins, mainly
in LAE. This extract was chosen for the subsequent studies since it reduced the viral cytopathic effect and virus
production, even at high viral loads [MOI (multiplicity of infection) 1 and 5]. The effects of LAE resulted in a
marked reduction in viral gene expression. The viral title was drastically reduced when LAE was added to the
virus before infection or during replication stages, reducing virus production up to 5-log units compared to
infected and untreated cells.
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Arbovirus, Alphavirus, Medicinal plants, Folk medicine, Plant extracts
Citação
NUNES, D. A. de F. et al. Virucidal antiviral activity of Maytenus quadrangulata extract against Mayaro virus: evidence for the presence of catechins. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, v. 311, artigo 116436, jul. 2023. Disponível em: <https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378874123003045?via%3Dihub>. Acesso em: 01 ago. 2023.