Methanol extract and N,N-dimethyltryptamine from psychotria viridis ruiz & pav. inhibit in vitro the Zika virus infection.

Abstract

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.