Amentoflavone from Selaginella tamariscina inhibits SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase
Kyoung Won Youn,
Siyun Lee,
Jang Hoon Kim,
Yea-In Park,
Jaeyeon So,
Chansoo Kim,
Chong Woon Cho,
Junsoo Park
Affiliations
Kyoung Won Youn
Division of Biological Science and Technology, Yonsei University, Wonju, 26493, Republic of Korea
Siyun Lee
Division of Biological Science and Technology, Yonsei University, Wonju, 26493, Republic of Korea
Jang Hoon Kim
Department of Herbal Crop Research, National Institute of Horticultural & Herbal Science, RDA, Eumsung, 27709, Republic of Korea
Yea-In Park
Division of Biological Science and Technology, Yonsei University, Wonju, 26493, Republic of Korea
Jaeyeon So
Division of Biological Science and Technology, Yonsei University, Wonju, 26493, Republic of Korea
Chansoo Kim
Division of Biological Science and Technology, Yonsei University, Wonju, 26493, Republic of Korea
Chong Woon Cho
College of Pharmacy, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
Junsoo Park
Division of Biological Science and Technology, Yonsei University, Wonju, 26493, Republic of Korea; Corresponding author. Yonsei University, Division of Biological Sciences and Technology, 1 Yonseidae-gil, Wonju City, Kangwon Province, 26493, Republic of Korea.
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic caused millions of deaths due to its prominent infectivity and mortality. Although the vaccines and medicines for SARS-CoV-2 are on the market, new coronavirus variants like influenza are expected to reemerge continuously. Therefore, effective and inexpensive medicines will be required to respond to SARS-CoV-2 variants. Here, we used herbal plant extracts to search for effective compounds that can interfere with SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and found that Selaginella tamariscina extract (STE) can reduce SARS-CoV-2 RdRp activity. The HCoV-OC43 beta coronavirus model was used to examine whether STE treatment could inhibit coronavirus replication and reduce coronavirus-induced cytotoxicity. Next, we searched the active compound of STE and found that amentoflavone is the main active compound of STE. Finally, we demonstrated that amentoflavone inhibits SARS-CoV-2 RdRp and coronavirus replication. Our results collectively indicate that amentoflavone from STE is possibly beneficial in responding to coronavirus-related diseases, including SARS-CoV-2.
