Dehydrojuncusol, a Natural Phenanthrene Compound Extracted from Juncus maritimus , Is a New Inhibitor of Hepatitis C Virus RNA Replication

Abstract

Tens of millions of people are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) worldwide. Recently marketed direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) targeting HCV proteins have enhanced the efficacy of treatment. However, due to its high cost, this new therapy is not accessible to the vast majority of infected patients. Furthermore, treatment failures have also been reported due to the appearance of viral resistance. Here, we report on the identification of a new HCV inhibitor, dehydrojuncusol, that targets HCV NS5A and is able to inhibit RNA replication of replicons harboring resistance mutations to anti-NS5A DAAs used in current therapy. Dehydrojuncusol is a natural compound isolated from Juncus maritimus , a halophilic plant species that is very common in coastlines worldwide. This molecule might serve as a lead for the development of a new therapy that is more accessible to hepatitis C patients in the future.