Cordycepin inhibits virus replication in dengue virus-infected vero cells
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-1-2021
Abstract
Dengue virus (DENV) infection causes mild to severe illness in humans that can lead to fatality in severe cases. Currently, no specific drug is available for the treatment of DENV infection. Thus, the development of an anti-DENV drug is urgently required. Cordycepin (3 `-deoxyadenosine), which is a major bioactive compound in Cordyceps (ascomycete) fungus that has been used for centuries in Chinese traditional medicine, was reported to exhibit antiviral activity. However, the anti-DENV activity of cordycepin is unknown. We hypothesized that cordycepin exerts anti-DENV activity and that, as an adenosine derivative, it inhibits DENV replication. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the anti-DENV activity of cordycepin in DENV-infected Vero cells. Cordycepin treatment significantly decreased DENV protein at a half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) of 26.94 mu M. Moreover, DENV RNA was dramatically decreased in cordycepin-treated Vero cells, indicating its effectiveness in inhibiting viral RNA replication. Via in silico molecular docking, the binding of cordycepin to DENV non-structural protein 5 (NS5), which is an important enzyme for RNA synthesis, at both the methyltransferase (MTase) and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) domains, was predicted. The results of this study demonstrate that cordycepin is able to inhibit DENV replication, which portends its potential as an anti-dengue therapy.
Keywords
Bioactive compound, Cordycepin, Cordyceps extract, Dengue virus, Antiviral activity
Divisions
CHEMISTRY
Funders
Center of Excellence for Innovation in Analytical Science and Technology (I-ANALY-S-T), Chiang Mai University,Thailand Research Fund (TRF) [DPG6080002],Chiang Mai University [R000026614]
Publication Title
Molecules
Volume
26
Issue
11
Publisher
MDPI
Publisher Location
ST ALBAN-ANLAGE 66, CH-4052 BASEL, SWITZERLAND