The laboratory results suggest that Artemisia Annua could be useful in the treatment for SARS-CoV-2
A team of researchers including Worcester Polytechnic Institute biology professor Pamela Weathers found that extracts from the leaves of Artemisia annua inhibit replication of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and two of its recent variants .
The team, which included researchers from Columbia University in New York and the University of Washington in Seattle, also found that extracts from the plant were more effective against the virus when levels of a key therapeutic compound in the plant, artemisinin, they were low. In vitro results have led researchers to suggest that one or more compounds in Artemisia annua, which have not yet been identified, could indicate a safe and low-cost therapeutic treatment for SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID pandemic. -19.
The work was described in an article published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology.
“Artemisia annua has been extensively studied and has been used safely for more than 2,000 years in traditional medicine to treat a variety of fever-related ailments,” said Weathers. “Artemisia annua could provide clues to new therapies with safe and cheap molecules, or even be used as an antiviral nutraceutical.”
The researchers soaked the dried leaves of Artemisia annuan in warm water and tested the solutions against SARS-CoV-2 and two variants native to the UK and South Africa .
Some leaf samples were 12 years old but still effective against the virus. The researchers also tested artemisinin alone against viruses, but the plant extracts were more potent.
Artemisinin is a compound produced naturally by the plant, but it is usually extracted, chemically modified and developed in combination with other drugs to treat malaria.
The results showed that the Artemisia annua extracts did not block the virus from entering cells, but interfered with the virus’s ability to replicate, killing it . Furthermore, the anti-replicative activity did not appear to be linked to artemisinin or flavonoids, which are natural substances present in the plant.
Dr. Weathers has extensively studied different strains of Artemisia, grown all over the world. She recently co-authored articles exploring the antimalarial properties of artemisinin and the impact of Artemisia annua and artemisinin extracts on the malaria parasite.
He is also currently collaborating on a study at the WPI to identify compounds in Artemisia annua that may be effective against the bacteria responsible for tuberculosis .
Dr Weathers said more research is needed to identify the best compound, or combination of Artemisia annua-based compounds, that are effective at inhibiting viral replication.
“These results add to the evidence emerging from other laboratories around the world that this plant has active ingredients that could help COVID-19 positive patients”
Weathers said.
“We also know that the plant has compounds that inhibit inflammation and the formation of scar tissue known as fibrosis, which also affect patients with COVID-19. Together, these characteristics indicate a plant that requires much more study ”.
