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Current status and future challenges in extraction, purification and identification of Cepharanthine (a potential
Yu Wang1, Xinbiao Zhou1, Shuang Wei1
1School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
Insights
Cepharanthine (CEP) shows strong antiviral efficacy against COVID-19, necessitating efficient extraction and purification methods. This review explores techniques for obtaining this potential therapeutic agent.
Area of Science:
- Natural Product Chemistry
- Pharmacology
- Virology
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic highlights the need for effective antiviral treatments beyond vaccination.
- Cepharanthine (CEP), a natural alkaloid, demonstrates significant antiviral properties, positioning it as a potential COVID-19 therapeutic.
- Developing CEP-based products requires robust methods for its extraction, purification, and identification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the origin, classification, and extraction techniques of Cepharanthine (CEP).
- To summarize current purification and identification methods for CEP.
- To propose future research directions for optimizing CEP extraction and industrial application.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of conventional and novel extraction techniques for Cepharanthine.
- Summary of purification and identification methodologies for CEP.
- Analysis of plant-based extraction as the primary source of CEP.
Main Results:
- Plant extraction remains the principal method for obtaining Cepharanthine.
- Innovative and hybrid extraction techniques are crucial for efficient CEP isolation.
- Current methods require enhancement for industrial-scale CEP production.
Conclusions:
- Efficient extraction and purification techniques are vital for the development of Cepharanthine as an antiviral drug.
- Further research into novel and hybrid extraction methods is recommended.
- Optimized techniques will facilitate the industrial utilization of Cepharanthine.
Abstract:
With the outbreak of the new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the rapid spread of the virus has brought huge economic losses and life threats to the world. So far, we have entered the third year of the epidemic and there is an urgent need to provide more anti-viral treatment along with vaccination. Recent studies have confirmed that Cepharanthine (CEP) has strong antiviral efficacy, which is a potential drug against COVID-19. As a natural active alkaloid, the development of CEP-incorporated products is dependent on the extraction, purification and identification of CEP. This review gives a brief introduction of CEP, including its origin and classification, and its conventional and novel extraction techniques. In addition, the purification and identification techniques are summarized. In the last, the future research directions are proposed. It can be found from this review that the extraction from plants is still the main way to obtain CEP, and it is necessary to use innovative techniques and their hybrid extractions to extract CEP. More efficient extraction and purification techniques should be used to extract CEP in the future. This review provides a basis for the development of novel extraction and purification techniques and industrial utilization of CEP.
