A study of the potential of medicinalplant extracts in suppression of SARS-CoV-2 replication: a pilot study*

Relevance. Medicinal products of plant origin have long been successfully used in the treatment of various diseases, including those of viral etiology. Nevertheless, their effect on the replication of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has not been studied so far. Objective. To evaluate the potential of drugs based on validated plant extracts – RE (Bronchipret, Bronchipret TP, Tonsilgon N, Sinupret extract, Tonsipret) with respect to their ability to suppress SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro. Materials and methods. Vero cells (Vero) incubated with RE of different concentrations were infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus. After 48 h the virus replication (the number of viral RNA copies in cell culture supernatant) was determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results. SARS-CoV-2 RNA copy number under the action of non-cytotoxic concentrations of Bronchipret TP decreased by 1000 times and by 10 times under the action of drugs Tonsilgon N and Tonsipret. Conclusion. Some of the studied REs in vitro demonstrated promising antiviral activity. It is advisable to conduct further, including clinical, studies of their activity against SARS-CoV-2 in the treatment of coronavirus infection (COronaVirus Disease 2019 – COVID-19).