Methanol extract and N,N-dimethyltryptamine from psychotria viridis ruiz & pav. inhibit in vitro the Zika virus infection.
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2021
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Zika virus (ZIKV) is a public health problem due to its association with serious fetal and neurological complications and
the lack of antiviral agents and licensed vaccines against this virus. Surveillance studies have alerted about the potential
occurrence of a new South American epidemic episode due to the recent circulation of an African ZIKV strain detected in
Brazil. Therefore, it is essential to discover antiviral agents, including natural substances, that are capable of neutralizing the
action of ZIKV. Several Psychotria species have antimicrobial and anti-infammatory properties. Thus, a methanol extract
and dimethyltryptamine from Psychotria viridis were evaluated for their ability to inhibit ZIKV infection in vitro by measur-
ing the efective concentration that protects 50% of cells and investigating their possible mechanisms of action. The tested
samples showed antiviral activity against ZIKV. The extract showed virucidal activity, afecting viral and non-cellular ele-
ments, inactivating the virus before infection or when it becomes extracellular after the second cycle of infection. It was also
observed that both extract and dimethyltryptamine could inhibit the virus at intracellular stages of the viral cycle. In addition
to dimethyltryptamine, it is believed that other compounds also contribute to the promising virucidal efect observed for the
methanol extract. To our knowledge, this is the frst report of the activity of a methanolic extract and dimethyltryptamine
from Psychotria viridis against cellular ZIKV infection. These two samples, extracted from natural sources, are potential
candidates for use as antiviral drugs to inhibit ZIKV infections.
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MORAES, T. de F. S. et al. Methanol extract and N,N-dimethyltryptamine from psychotria viridis ruiz & pav. inhibit in vitro the Zika virus infection. Archives of virology, v. 166, p. 3275-3287, 2021. Disponível em: <https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00705-021-05230-8>. Acesso em: 11 out. 2022.