Secondary metabolites of Alternaria alternate appraisal of their SARS-CoV-2 inhibitory and anti-inflammatory potentials.

This study identifies the secondary metabolites from Alternaria alternate and evaluates their ACE-2: Spike RBD (SARS-CoV-2) inhibitory activity confirmed via immunoblotting in human lung microvascular endothelial cells. In addition, their in vitro anti-inflammatory potential was assessed using a cel...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Fatma A Moharram, Reham R Ibrahim, Shahenda Mahgoub, Mohamed S Abdel-Aziz, Ahmed M Said, Hui-Chi Huang, Lo-Yun Chen, Kuei-Hung Lai, Nashwa Hashad, Mohamed S Mady
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0313616
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850280805830492160
author Fatma A Moharram
Reham R Ibrahim
Shahenda Mahgoub
Mohamed S Abdel-Aziz
Ahmed M Said
Hui-Chi Huang
Lo-Yun Chen
Kuei-Hung Lai
Nashwa Hashad
Mohamed S Mady
author_facet Fatma A Moharram
Reham R Ibrahim
Shahenda Mahgoub
Mohamed S Abdel-Aziz
Ahmed M Said
Hui-Chi Huang
Lo-Yun Chen
Kuei-Hung Lai
Nashwa Hashad
Mohamed S Mady
author_sort Fatma A Moharram
collection DOAJ
description This study identifies the secondary metabolites from Alternaria alternate and evaluates their ACE-2: Spike RBD (SARS-CoV-2) inhibitory activity confirmed via immunoblotting in human lung microvascular endothelial cells. In addition, their in vitro anti-inflammatory potential was assessed using a cell-based assay in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. Two novel compounds, altenuline (1), phthalic acid bis (7'/7'' pentyloxy) isohexyl ester (2), along with 1-deoxyrubralactone (3) alternariol-5-O-methyl ether (4) and alternariol (5) were identified. Molecular docking and in vitro studies showed that compounds 2 and 4 were promising to counteract SARS-CoV-2 attachment to human ACE-2. Thus, they are considered promising natural anti-viral agents. SwissADME in silico analysis was conducted to predict the drug-like potential. Immunoblotting analysis confirmed that the tested compounds (1-4) demonstrated downregulation of ACE-2 expression in the endothelial cells from the lungs with variable degrees. Furthermore, the tested compounds (1-4) showed promising anti-inflammatory activities through TNF-α: TNFR2 inhibitory activity and their inhibitory effect on the proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) in LPS-stimulated monocytes. In conclusion, our study, for the first time, provides beneficial experimental confirmation for the efficiency of the A. alternate secondary metabolites for the treatment of COVID-19 as they hinder SARS-CoV-2 infection and lower inflammatory responses initiated by SARS-CoV-2. A. alternate and its metabolites are considered in developing preventative and therapeutic tactics for COVID-19.
format Article
id doaj-art-758bb114c85941a789f86bbe89b4b3fa
institution OA Journals
issn 1932-6203
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS ONE
spelling doaj-art-758bb114c85941a789f86bbe89b4b3fa2025-08-20T01:48:36ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01201e031361610.1371/journal.pone.0313616Secondary metabolites of Alternaria alternate appraisal of their SARS-CoV-2 inhibitory and anti-inflammatory potentials.Fatma A MoharramReham R IbrahimShahenda MahgoubMohamed S Abdel-AzizAhmed M SaidHui-Chi HuangLo-Yun ChenKuei-Hung LaiNashwa HashadMohamed S MadyThis study identifies the secondary metabolites from Alternaria alternate and evaluates their ACE-2: Spike RBD (SARS-CoV-2) inhibitory activity confirmed via immunoblotting in human lung microvascular endothelial cells. In addition, their in vitro anti-inflammatory potential was assessed using a cell-based assay in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. Two novel compounds, altenuline (1), phthalic acid bis (7'/7'' pentyloxy) isohexyl ester (2), along with 1-deoxyrubralactone (3) alternariol-5-O-methyl ether (4) and alternariol (5) were identified. Molecular docking and in vitro studies showed that compounds 2 and 4 were promising to counteract SARS-CoV-2 attachment to human ACE-2. Thus, they are considered promising natural anti-viral agents. SwissADME in silico analysis was conducted to predict the drug-like potential. Immunoblotting analysis confirmed that the tested compounds (1-4) demonstrated downregulation of ACE-2 expression in the endothelial cells from the lungs with variable degrees. Furthermore, the tested compounds (1-4) showed promising anti-inflammatory activities through TNF-α: TNFR2 inhibitory activity and their inhibitory effect on the proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) in LPS-stimulated monocytes. In conclusion, our study, for the first time, provides beneficial experimental confirmation for the efficiency of the A. alternate secondary metabolites for the treatment of COVID-19 as they hinder SARS-CoV-2 infection and lower inflammatory responses initiated by SARS-CoV-2. A. alternate and its metabolites are considered in developing preventative and therapeutic tactics for COVID-19.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0313616
spellingShingle Fatma A Moharram
Reham R Ibrahim
Shahenda Mahgoub
Mohamed S Abdel-Aziz
Ahmed M Said
Hui-Chi Huang
Lo-Yun Chen
Kuei-Hung Lai
Nashwa Hashad
Mohamed S Mady
Secondary metabolites of Alternaria alternate appraisal of their SARS-CoV-2 inhibitory and anti-inflammatory potentials.
PLoS ONE
title Secondary metabolites of Alternaria alternate appraisal of their SARS-CoV-2 inhibitory and anti-inflammatory potentials.
title_full Secondary metabolites of Alternaria alternate appraisal of their SARS-CoV-2 inhibitory and anti-inflammatory potentials.
title_fullStr Secondary metabolites of Alternaria alternate appraisal of their SARS-CoV-2 inhibitory and anti-inflammatory potentials.
title_full_unstemmed Secondary metabolites of Alternaria alternate appraisal of their SARS-CoV-2 inhibitory and anti-inflammatory potentials.
title_short Secondary metabolites of Alternaria alternate appraisal of their SARS-CoV-2 inhibitory and anti-inflammatory potentials.
title_sort secondary metabolites of alternaria alternate appraisal of their sars cov 2 inhibitory and anti inflammatory potentials
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0313616
work_keys_str_mv AT fatmaamoharram secondarymetabolitesofalternariaalternateappraisaloftheirsarscov2inhibitoryandantiinflammatorypotentials
AT rehamribrahim secondarymetabolitesofalternariaalternateappraisaloftheirsarscov2inhibitoryandantiinflammatorypotentials
AT shahendamahgoub secondarymetabolitesofalternariaalternateappraisaloftheirsarscov2inhibitoryandantiinflammatorypotentials
AT mohamedsabdelaziz secondarymetabolitesofalternariaalternateappraisaloftheirsarscov2inhibitoryandantiinflammatorypotentials
AT ahmedmsaid secondarymetabolitesofalternariaalternateappraisaloftheirsarscov2inhibitoryandantiinflammatorypotentials
AT huichihuang secondarymetabolitesofalternariaalternateappraisaloftheirsarscov2inhibitoryandantiinflammatorypotentials
AT loyunchen secondarymetabolitesofalternariaalternateappraisaloftheirsarscov2inhibitoryandantiinflammatorypotentials
AT kueihunglai secondarymetabolitesofalternariaalternateappraisaloftheirsarscov2inhibitoryandantiinflammatorypotentials
AT nashwahashad secondarymetabolitesofalternariaalternateappraisaloftheirsarscov2inhibitoryandantiinflammatorypotentials
AT mohamedsmady secondarymetabolitesofalternariaalternateappraisaloftheirsarscov2inhibitoryandantiinflammatorypotentials