Resveratrol And Pterostilbene Potently Inhibit SARS-CoV-2 Infection In Vitro

ter Ellen, B. M.; Dinesh Kumar, N.; Bouma, E. M.; Troost, B.; van de Pol, D. P. I.; van der Ende-Metselaar, H. H.; Apperloo, L.; van Gosliga, D.; van den Berge, M.; Nawijn, M. C.; van der Voort, P. H. J.; Moser, J.; Rodenhuis-Zybert, I. A.; Smit, J. M.

doi:10.1101/2020.09.24.285940

bioRxiv · 10.1101/2020.09.24.285940

Resveratrol And Pterostilbene Potently Inhibit SARS-CoV-2 Infection In Vitro

ter Ellen, B. M.·Dinesh Kumar, N.·Bouma, E. M.·Troost, B.·van de Pol, D. P. I.·van der Ende-Metselaar, H. H.·Apperloo, L.·van Gosliga, D.·van den Berge, M.·Nawijn, M. C.·van der Voort, P. H. J.·Moser, J.·Rodenhuis-Zybert, I. A.·Smit, J. M.

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Abstract

The current COVID-19 pandemic is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and has an enormous impact on human health and economy. In search for therapeutic options, researchers have proposed resveratrol, a food supplement with known antiviral, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties as an advantageous antiviral therapy for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here, we provide evidence that both resveratrol and its metabolically more stable structural analog, pterostilbene, exhibit potent antiviral properties against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. Resveratrol and pterostilbene showed antiviral activity in African green monkey kidney cells and in human primary bronchial epithelial cells cultured in an air-liquid interface system. Both compounds actively inhibit virus replication within infected cells as reduced virus progeny production was observed when the compound was added at post-inoculation conditions. Without replenishment of the compound, antiviral activity was observed up to roughly 5 rounds of replication, demonstrating the long-lasting effect of these compounds. Collectively, our data indicate that resveratrol and pterostilbene are promising antiviral compounds to treat SARS-CoV-2 infection. Because these results represent laboratory findings in cells, we advocate evaluation of these compounds in clinical trials before statements are made whether or not these drugs are advantageous for COVID-19 treatment.

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ter Ellen, B. M., Dinesh Kumar, N., Bouma, E. M., Troost, B., van de Pol, D. P. I., van der Ende-Metselaar, H. H., Apperloo, L., van Gosliga, D., van den Berge, M., Nawijn, M. C., van der Voort, P. H. J., Moser, J., Rodenhuis-Zybert, I. A., Smit, J. M.. 2020-09-24. Resveratrol And Pterostilbene Potently Inhibit SARS-CoV-2 Infection In Vitro. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.09.24.285940

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