Effect of Asphodelus Microcarpus on Low Pathogenic Coronavirus 229E

Abstract

Human coronavirus and several picornaviruses are responsible for worldwide epidemic outbreaks, thus representing a heavy burden to their hosts. Coronaviruses (CoVs), enveloped positive-sense RNA viruses, are characterized by club-like spikes that project from their surface, an unusually large RNA genome, and a unique replication strategy. Roots of Asphodelus microcarpus-which planted in Marsa Matroh Governorate El-Dabaa region is the main food of Spalax leucodon Egyptiacus which showed immunity to many diseases. This plant was mainly reported to have anthraquinone and its derivatives. Asphodelus microcarpus tuber was extracted using methanol 80% that can extract polar, semi-polar, and non-polar compounds.Subsequently the methanolic extract was fractionated to, ethyl acetate. The present work showed that significant antiviral activity of A.microcarpus against coronavirus 229E, further studies are required to emphasizes this effect.