A potential host and virus targeting tool against COVID-19: Chemical characterization, antiviral, cytoprotective, antioxidant, respiratory smooth muscle relaxant effects of Paulownia tomentosa Steud

• Published in: Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy 2023-02, Vol.158, p.114083-114083, Article 114083
• Main Authors: Magurano, Fabio, Micucci, Matteo, Nuzzo, Domenico, Baggieri, Melissa, Picone, Pasquale, Gioacchini, Silvia, Fioravanti, Raoul, Bucci, Paola, Kojouri, Maedeh, Mari, Michele, Retini, Michele, Budriesi, Roberta, Mattioli, Laura Beatrice, Corazza, Ivan, Di Liberto, Valentina, Todaro, Luigi, Giuseppetti, Roberto, D’Ugo, Emilio, Marchi, Antonella, Mecca, Marisabel, D’Auria, Maurizio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antioxidants - pharmacology; Antioxydant; Antiviral; Antiviral Agents - therapeutic use; COVID-19; COVID-19 Drug Treatment; Humans; Muscle, Smooth; Paulownia tomentosa Steud extract; Phytocomplex; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; SARS-CoV-2
• ISSN: 0753-3322; 1950-6007
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.114083

COronaVIrus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a newly emerging infectious disease that spread across the world, caused by the novel coronavirus Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Despite the advancements in science that led to the creation of the vaccine, there is still an urgent need for new antiviral drugs effective against SARS-CoV-2. This study aimed to investigate the antiviral effect of Paulownia tomentosa Steud extract against SARS-CoV-2 and to evaluate its antioxidant properties, including respiratory smooth muscle relaxant effects. Our results showed that P. tomentosa extract can inhibit viral replication by directly interacting with both the 3-chymotrypsin-like protease and spike protein. In addition, the phyto complex does not reduce lung epithelial cell viability and exerts a protective action in those cells damaged by tert-butyl hydroperoxide , a toxic agent able to alter cells’ functions via increased oxidative stress. These data suggest the potential role of P. tomentosa extract in COVID-19 treatment, since this extract is able to act both as an antiviral and a cytoprotective agent in vitro. [Display omitted] •The study conducted on Paulownia tomentosa Steud (PTS) extract confirms its relevant properties.•PTS extract showed antiviral and virucidal activity against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro.•Antioxidant properties and respiratory smooth muscle relaxant effects of PTS extract were proved.•PTS extract is able to act both as an antiviral and a cytoprotective agent in in vitro models.•The data presented suggest the potential role of PTS in COVID-19 treatment.