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Pharmacological effect of cepharanthine on SARS-CoV-2-induced disease in a Syrian hamster model
Takayuki Uematsu1, Reiko Takai-Todaka2, Kei Haga2
1Biomedical Laboratory, Division of Biomedical Research, Kitasato University Medical Center, Arai, Kitamoto, Saitama, Japan.
Background:
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), remains a global public health threat. Although several effective vaccines and therapeutics have been developed, continuous emergence of new variants necessitates development of drugs with different mechanisms of action. Recent studies indicate that cepharanthine, a chemical derivative purified from Stephania cepharantha, inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro.
Methods:
This study examined the in vivo effects of cepharanthine using a Syrian hamster SARS-CoV-2 infection model. To evaluate the prophylactic and therapeutic effects, cepharanthine was intranasally administered before or after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Effects were assessed by monitoring body weight changes, lung pathology, lung viral load, and inflammatory response in the lungs.
Results:
Pre-infection administration of cepharanthine resulted in less weight loss, reduced virus titers, alleviated histopathological severity, and decreased lung inflammation. Furthermore, post-infection administration of cepharanthine also exhibited therapeutic effects.
Conclusions:
This study demonstrated that both prophylactic and therapeutic administration of cepharanthine reduces the pathogenesis of COVID-19 in a Syrian hamster SARS-CoV-2 infection model. Our findings suggest that cepharanthine is a potential therapeutic agent against COVID-19.
Insights
Cepharanthine shows promise in treating COVID-19. This study found that cepharanthine, administered before or after infection, reduced disease severity and viral load in a hamster model, suggesting its potential as a COVID-19 therapeutic.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Pharmacology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, continues to be a global health concern.
- New SARS-CoV-2 variants necessitate novel therapeutics with distinct mechanisms of action.
- Cepharanthine, derived from Stephania cepharantha, has demonstrated in vitro inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 replication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the in vivo prophylactic and therapeutic potential of cepharanthine against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- To evaluate the effects of cepharanthine on disease progression in a Syrian hamster model.
Main Methods:
- Syrian hamsters were infected with SARS-CoV-2 and treated with cepharanthine intranasally, either pre- or post-infection.
- Outcomes assessed included body weight changes, lung pathology, viral load, and inflammatory markers.
Main Results:
- Pre-infection cepharanthine administration led to reduced weight loss, lower lung virus titers, and decreased inflammation.
- Post-infection administration of cepharanthine also demonstrated therapeutic benefits.
- Histopathological analysis revealed alleviated lung damage in cepharanthine-treated hamsters.
Conclusions:
- Both prophylactic and therapeutic administration of cepharanthine effectively mitigated COVID-19 pathogenesis in a hamster model.
- Cepharanthine presents a potential therapeutic candidate for managing COVID-19.
- Further research into cepharanthine's efficacy and safety is warranted.
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