Inhibitory Effect of <i>Sargassum fusiforme</i> and Its Components on Replication of Respiratory Syncytial Virus In Vitro and In Vivo

oleh: Kiramage Chathuranga, Asela Weerawardhana, Niranjan Dodantenna, Lakmal Ranathunga, Won-Kyung Cho, Jin Yeul Ma, Jong-Soo Lee

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2021-03-01

Deskripsi

<i>Sargassum fusiforme</i>, a plant used as a medicine and food, is regarded as a marine vegetable and health supplement to improve life expectancy. Here, we demonstrate that <i>S. fusiforme</i> extract (SFE) has antiviral effects against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in vitro and in vivo mouse model. Treatment of HEp2 cells with a non-cytotoxic concentration of SFE significantly reduced RSV replication, RSV-induced cell death, RSV gene transcription, RSV protein synthesis, and syncytium formation. Moreover, oral inoculation of SFE significantly improved RSV clearance from the lungs of BALB/c mice. Interestingly, the phenolic compounds eicosane, docosane, and tetracosane were identified as active components of SFE. Treatment with a non-cytotoxic concentration of these three components elicited similar antiviral effects against RSV infection as SFE in vitro. Together, these results suggest that SFE and its potential components are a promising natural antiviral agent candidate against RSV infection.