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Screening and identifying natural products with SARS-CoV-2 infection inhibitory activity from medicinal fungi

Summary

Researchers screened 167 extracts from 36 medicinal fungi to find natural compounds that could fight COVID-19. They discovered that certain fungi, particularly Inonotus obliquus and Pholiota adiposa, contain polysaccharides that effectively block the virus from infecting cells. These natural compounds showed promise as potential safe alternatives for developing new COVID-19 treatments and may have applications against other viral diseases.

Background

COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has created an urgent need for effective antiviral agents. Medicinal fungi have demonstrated antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties against various respiratory viruses. Natural products from fungi represent a promising source for developing new therapeutic interventions.

Objective

To screen and identify natural products from medicinal fungi with anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity using both cellular and molecular level assays. To characterize the active compounds and evaluate their potential as antiviral therapeutics.

Results

Eleven extracts demonstrated notable inhibitory effects on viral infection. Inonotus obliquus and Pholiota adiposa showed potent inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 infection and RBD-hACE2 binding. Mass spectrometry analysis revealed that active components are polysaccharides with specific monosaccharide residue compositions including pentose, hexose, and glucuronic acid residues.

Conclusion

Polysaccharides from certain medicinal fungi exhibit potent inhibitory effects on SARS-CoV-2 infection and viral-receptor binding. These natural macromolecules represent promising candidates for developing safe and effective anti-COVID-19 therapeutics. The screening workflow successfully integrated multiple assessment levels to identify and characterize antiviral compounds.
  • Published in:Biosaf Health,
  • Study Type:Experimental Research Study,
  • Source: PMID: 40078308, DOI: 10.1016/j.bsheal.2023.12.006
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