In vitro inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 Infection by dry algae powders

In vitro inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 Infection by dry algae powders

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Abstract Chlorella spp., Spirulina spp., and fucoidan dry powders, are commercialized as food supplements and are considered safe for human consumption.Their broad-spectrum antiviral properties have been studied, however, their effect against SARS-CoV-2 remains unknown.We investigated the potential antiviral activity of three algae powders: Chlorella vulgaris, Arthrospira maxima (Spirulina) and fucoidan purified from marine brown algae Sargassum spp.

against SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro.Vero cells were incubated with 70 μg/ml of each algae powder and either 50 or 100 TCID50/ml of SARS-CoV-2, in two types of experiments (pretreatment and simultaneous) and comparing two kinds of solvents (DMEM and DMSO).Chlorella vulgaris powder, inhibited SARS-CoV-2 infection in all assays; viral RNA was significantly reduced in supernatants Vanadyl at 24, 48, 72, and 96 h post-infection, the highest difference in viral load (8000-fold) was observed after 96 h.Arthrospira maxima powder inhibited SARS-CoV-2 infection using 50 TCID50/ml for both experimental schemes, but protection percent was lower when viral inoculum was increase to 100 TCID50/ml; viral RNA decreased 48 h after infection, reaching a 250-fold difference at 72 h.Fucoidan powder partially inhibited SARS-CoV-2 infection since no CPE was observed in 62.

5% of trated cultures in DMEM, but the antiviral activity was increased to 100% of protection when DMSO was Compressor Motor Start Relay used as solvent.All the algae samples showed high antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 with a SI above of 18.These results suggest that all three algae samples are potential therapeutic candidates for the treatment of COVID-19.