Sulforaphane exhibits antiviral activity against pandemic SARS-CoV-2 and seasonal HCoV-OC43 coronaviruses in vitro and in mice

Abstract

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the cause of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has incited a global health crisis. Currently, there are limited therapeutic options for the prevention and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infections. We evaluated the antiviral activity of sulforaphane (SFN), the principal biologically active phytochemical derived from glucoraphanin, the naturally occurring precursor present in high concentrations in cruciferous vegetables. SFN inhibited in vitro replication of six strains of SARS-CoV-2, including Delta and Omicron, as well as that of the seasonal coronavirus HCoV-OC43. Further, SFN and remdesivir interacted synergistically to inhibit coronavirus infection in vitro. Prophylactic administration of SFN to K18-hACE2 mice prior to intranasal SARS-CoV-2 infection significantly decreased the viral load in the lungs and upper respiratory tract and reduced lung injury and pulmonary pathology compared to untreated infected mice. SFN treatment diminished immune cell activation in the lungs, including significantly lower recruitment of myeloid cells and a reduction in T cell activation and cytokine production. Our results suggest that SFN should be explored as a potential agent for the prevention or treatment of coronavirus infections.

Composition of naturally occurring compounds decreases activity of Omicron and SARS-CoV-2 RdRp complex

“…Prophylactic administration of SFN to K18-hACE2 mice prior to intranasal SARS-CoV-2 infection significantly decreased the viral load in the lungs and upper respiratory tract and reduced lung injury and pulmonary pathology. SFN treatment diminished immune cell activation in the lungs, including significantly lower recruitment of myeloid cells and a reduction in T cell activation and cytokine production as well [22]. These results combined with our previous findings on the anti-SARS-CoV-2 efficacy of the micronutrient complexes [23] illustrate potential benefits of applying specific combinations of individual components in addressing complex metabolic pathologies with each particular ingredient having distinct metabolic specificity, and their interactions can expand cellular efficacy through synergistic and complementary effects.…”

How to Restore Oxidative Balance That Was Disrupted by SARS-CoV-2 Infection

“…SFN can modulate cytokine storms by suppressing interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 [ 73 ]. According to Ordonez AA, SFN inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication and works synergistically with remdesivir, a broad-spectrum antiviral drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for COVID-19 treatment [ 74 ]. Calcitriol, an active form of vitamin D, has the ability to activate the NRF2 signaling pathway [ 75 , 76 ].…”

Clinical Research Progress of Small Molecule Compounds Targeting Nrf2 for Treating Inflammation-Related Diseases

“…Sulforaphane ( 2 , IC 50 is 2.4 μM ) (quantification of viral RNA from SARS-CoV-2-infected human intestinal Caco-2 cells treated with SFN using qPCR) is produced through the hydrolysis of glucosinolates, which are found in cruciferous vegetables, such as cabbage and radishes [ 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 ]. Sulforaphane has entered phase 2 clinical trials.…”