COVID19-inhibitory activity of withanolides involves targeting of the host cell surface receptor ACE2: insights from computational and biochemical assays
Rajkumar Singh Kalra, Vipul Kumar, Jaspreet Kaur Dhanjal, Sukant Garg, Xiaoshuai Li, Sunil C. Kaul, Durai Sundar, Renu Wadhwa
Abstract
mRNA and protein analyses using human cancer (A549, MCF7 and HSC3) cells. We found that among all withanolides, Withaferin-A, Withanone, Withanoside-IV and Withanoside-V significantly inhibited the ACE2 expression. Analysis of withanolides-rich aqueous extracts derived from Ashwagandha leaves and stem showed a higher ACE2 inhibitory potency of stem-derived extracts. Taken together, we demonstrated the inhibitory potency of Ashwagandha withanolides and its aqueous extracts against ACE2.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
Topics & Concepts
PotencyWithaferin AWithania somniferaPharmacologyBiologyChemistryBiochemistryIn vitroMedicineAlternative medicinePathologyPhytochemicals and Medicinal PlantsSARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 ResearchComputational Drug Discovery Methods