Brazilian Tree Compound Fights COVID on Multiple Fronts
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- Galloylquinic acids from Copaifera lucens leaves block SARS-CoV-2 from entering cells, disrupt viral replication, and reduce viral protein production, based on laboratory testing.
- Copaifera lucens Dwyer — a tree native to Brazil's Atlantic Forest — is the source of the bioactive compounds, which were isolated and tested for antiviral activity with support from FAPESP.
- Jairo Kenupp Bastos and his team at the University of São Paulo identified the compounds’ multi-target effects, noting this reduces the likelihood of viral resistance compared to single-target antivirals.
- Mohamed Abdelsalam, Lamiaa A. Al-Madboly, and Rasha M. El-Morsi led the biological study in Egypt, analyzing how the compounds interact with the spike protein, PLpro, and RNA polymerase.
- Scientific Reports published the findings, which show galloylquinic acids act as dual inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 spike and RdRp proteins, with additional anti-inflammatory effects.
Why it matters: This multi-pronged antiviral action could lead to more resilient treatments, as drugs targeting multiple viral mechanisms are less prone to resistance. For drug discovery, it underscores the value of biodiverse ecosystems like the Atlantic Forest as sources of novel therapeutics.
