Flavonoids of <i>Salvadora persica</i> L. (meswak) and its liposomal formulation as a potential inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2
Asmaa I. Owis, Marwa S. El-Hawary, Dalia El Amir, Hesham Refaat, Eman Alaaeldin, Omar M. Aly, Mahmoud A. Elrehany, Mohamed Kamel
Abstract
A549 cell line culture and a RT-PCR test almost as well as the FDA-approved anti-COVID-19 agent, remdesivir. Encapsulation within liposomal formulation led to a highly significant increase in the percentage of inhibition of viral replication from 38.09 ± 0.83 to 85.56 ± 1.12% in a flavonoid mixture and its liposomal preparation, respectively, and this figure approached that obtained for remdesivir (91.20 ± 1.71%). Preliminary tests were also performed, including a total flavonoid assay, a molecular docking study, a 3CL-protease inhibition assay and a cytotoxicity study. It was worthy to find a cheap, readily available, safe natural source for promising anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents, that leak their phytochemicals into the aqueous saliva during regular use as a brushing agent.