The Polyphenol-Rich Extract from Psiloxylon mauritianum, an Endemic Medicinal Plant from Reunion Island, Inhibits the Early Stages of Dengue and Zika Virus Infection

Abstract

The recent emergence and re-emergence of viral infections transmitted by vectors, such as the Zika virus (ZIKV) and Dengue virus (DENV), is a cause for international concern. These highly pathogenic arboviruses represent a serious health burden in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Despite the high morbidity and mortality associated with these viral infections, antiviral therapies are missing. Medicinal plants have been widely used to treat various infectious diseases since millenaries. Several compounds extracted from plants exhibit potent effects against viruses in vitro, calling for further investigations regarding their efficacy as antiviral drugs. Here, we demonstrate that an extract from Psiloxylon mauritianum, an endemic medicinal plant from Reunion Island, inhibits the infection of ZIKV in vitro without exhibiting cytotoxic effects. The extract was active against different ZIKV African and Asian strains, including an epidemic one. Time-of-drug-addition assays revealed that the P. mauritianum extract interfered with the attachment of the viral particles to the host cells. Importantly, the P. mauritianum extract was also able to prevent the infection of human cells by four dengue virus serotypes. Due to its potency and ability to target ZIKV and DENV particles, P. mauritianum may be of value for identifying and characterizing antiviral compounds to fight medically-important flaviviruses.

Fractionation of Biomolecules in Withania coagulans Extract for Bioreductive Nanoparticle Synthesis, Antifungal and Biofilm Activity

“…In order to overcome these biofilm-producers alternative treatments include the use of antibiofilm agents produced by medicinal plants as this mode of action reduces the resistance susceptibility [11]. Plants, being an enriched source of naturally occurring biologically active components, play a vital role in the prevention and treatment of diseases by boosting immunity and reducing toxicity [12,13]. Ancient plants like W. coagulans contain many useful bioactive molecules such as withanolide, withaferin, withacoagin [14], etc., that have been used to synthesize therapeutic drugs for the prevention and treatment of various diseases due to their reduced side effects [15,16].…”

Antiviral Natural Products for Arbovirus Infections

“…An indigenous medicinal plant ubiquitous in the Reunion and Mauritius Islands, Psiloxylon mauritianum is widely used in traditional medicine among the local people for dysentery and common infectious diseases [113]. Given the high content of polyphenols present in P. mauritianum extract, a study evaluated its ability to inhibit ZIKV and DENV infections [113].…”

“…An indigenous medicinal plant ubiquitous in the Reunion and Mauritius Islands, Psiloxylon mauritianum is widely used in traditional medicine among the local people for dysentery and common infectious diseases [113]. Given the high content of polyphenols present in P. mauritianum extract, a study evaluated its ability to inhibit ZIKV and DENV infections [113]. The data showed that P. mauritianum extract was able to inhibit ZIKV attachment to the host cell surface, and was able to exert antiviral activity against four DENV serotypes [113].…”

“…Given the high content of polyphenols present in P. mauritianum extract, a study evaluated its ability to inhibit ZIKV and DENV infections [113]. The data showed that P. mauritianum extract was able to inhibit ZIKV attachment to the host cell surface, and was able to exert antiviral activity against four DENV serotypes [113]. The plant extract displayed low toxicity and did not exert a genotoxic effect on human primary cell lines tested [113].…”

“…The data showed that P. mauritianum extract was able to inhibit ZIKV attachment to the host cell surface, and was able to exert antiviral activity against four DENV serotypes [113]. The plant extract displayed low toxicity and did not exert a genotoxic effect on human primary cell lines tested [113]. However, more work needs to be done to identify the active compounds responsible for antiviral activity from the plant extract and to investigate its potential to be an anti-flaviviral agent.…”