Molecules (Nov 2022)

The Biosynthesized Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles’ Antiviral Activity in Combination with <i>Pelargonium zonale</i> Extract against the Human Corona 229E Virus

  • Abdulsalam A. Alqahtani,
  • Mohamed A. El Raey,
  • Eman Abdelsalam,
  • Ammar M. Ibrahim,
  • Omaish Alqahtani,
  • Zenab Aly Torky,
  • Hany G. Attia

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27238362
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 27, no. 23
p. 8362

Abstract

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Almost one-third of all infectious diseases are caused by viruses, and these diseases account for nearly 20% of all deaths globally. It is becoming increasingly clear that highly contagious viral infections pose a significant threat to global health and economy around the world. The need for innovative, affordable, and safe antiviral therapies is a must. Zinc oxide nanoparticles are novel materials of low toxicity and low cost and are known for their antiviral activity. The genus Pelargonium was previously reported for its antiviral and antimicrobial activity. In this work, Pelargonium zonale leaf extract chemical profile was studied via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and was used for the biosynthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles. Furthermore, the antiviral activity of the combination of P. zonale extract and the biosynthesized nanoparticles of ZnO against the human corona 229E virus was investigated. Results revealed that ZnONPs had been biosynthesized with an average particle size of about 5.5 nm and characterized with UV, FTIR, TEM, XRD, and SEM. The antiviral activity showed significant activity and differences among the tested samples in favor of the combination of P. zonale extract and ZnONPs (ZnONPs/Ex). The lowest IC50, 2.028 µg/mL, and the highest SI, 68.4 of ZnONPs/Ex, assert the highest antiviral activity of the combination against human coronavirus (229E).

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