Artemisia argyi potentially prevents the infections with SARS-CoV-2 variants

Abstract

Abstract Background Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has potential benefits to prevent multi-viral infection including by modulating the immune system or defending oxidative stress. Artemisia argyi (A. argyi) has been widely used for anti-microbial infection, anti-allergy, anti-diabetes, and anti-inflammation in Eastern Asia. However, it remain unclear whether A. argyi has the potential to reduce the infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Results Through the docking simulation, eriodictyol and umbelliferone, two phytochemicals existed in Artemisia argyi, have showed their potential to bind to cellular proteins transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which are required for the cellular entry of SARS-CoV-2. Our results further found that eriodictyol and umbelliferone suppressed the infection of ACE2-expressed HEK-293T cells with lentiviral-based pseudo-particles expressing wild type and variants of SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein via interrupting the interaction between S protein and cellular receptor ACE2 and via reducing ACE2 and TMPRSS2 expressions. Conclusions In summary, Artemisia argyi and its ingredients eriodictyol and umbelliferone are potential agents to reduce SARS-CoV-2 infection.