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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2020.11.14.382770

Discovery of rhodomyrtone as a broad-spectrum antiviral inhibitor with anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity

Tang, W.·Lu, J.·Song, Q.-Y.·Li, M.-M.·Chen, L.-F.·Hu, L.-J.·Yang, S.-M.·Zhang, D.-M.·Wang, Y.·Li, Y.-L.·Ye, W.-C.
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Abstract

The outbreak of new viruses, such as serve acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), as well as the emerging of drug-resistance viruses highlight the urgent need for the development of broad-spectrum antiviral drugs. Herein, we report the discovery of a plant-derived small molecule, 6,8-dihydroxy-9-isobutyl-2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-7-(3-methylbutanoyl)-4,9-dihydro-1H-xanthene-1,3(2H)-dione (rhodomyrtone, RDT), which exhibited potent broad-spectrum antiviral activities against several RNA and DNA viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), and Kaposis sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). RDT can significantly suppress viral gene expression and show the low possibility to elicit drug-resistant variants. Mechanistic study implied that RDT inhibited viral infection by disturbing the cellular factors that essential for viral gene expression. Our results suggested that RDT might be a promising lead compound for the development of broad-spectrum antiviral drugs.

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Tang, W., Lu, J., Song, Q.-Y., Li, M.-M., Chen, L.-F., Hu, L.-J., Yang, S.-M., Zhang, D.-M., Wang, Y., Li, Y.-L., Ye, W.-C.. 2020-11-16. Discovery of rhodomyrtone as a broad-spectrum antiviral inhibitor with anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.11.14.382770

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