Optimization of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Treatments Based on Curcumin, Used Alone or Employed as a Photosensitizer

• Published in: Viruses Vol. 14; no. 10; p. 2132
• Main Authors: Zupin, Luisa, Fontana, Francesco, Clemente, Libera, Borelli, Violetta, Ricci, Giuseppe, Ruscio, Maurizio, Crovella, Sergio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 27-09-2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-inflammatory agents; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - pharmacology; Antiviral agents; Antiviral Agents - pharmacology; Antiviral Agents - therapeutic use; Bioactive compounds; Cell culture; Chlorocebus aethiops; Communication; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 Drug Treatment; Curcumin; Curcumin - pharmacology; Dengue fever; Disease prevention; Dosage and administration; Health aspects; Humans; Immunomodulation; in vitro infection; Infections; Inflammation; Inoculation; Lasers; Nanoparticles; Pediatrics; Pharmaceutical research; Photodynamic therapy; Photosensitizing Agents - chemistry; Photosensitizing Agents - pharmacology; Photosensitizing compounds; Ribonuclease; Ribonucleases - pharmacology; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Turmeric; Vero Cells; Vero E6 cells; Viral infections; Virions; Virus Replication; Viruses; Italy; United States > US; Vero E6 cells; SARS-CoV-2; in vitro infection; photodynamic therapy; curcumin
• ISSN: 1999-4915; 1999-4915
• DOI: 10.3390/v14102132

Curcumin, the bioactive compound of the spice Curcuma longa, has already been reported as a potential COVID-19 adjuvant treatment due to its immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, SARS-CoV-2 was challenged with curcumin; moreover, curcumin was also coupled with laser light at 445 nm in a photodynamic therapy approach. Curcumin at a concentration of 10 μM, delivered to the virus prior to inoculation on cell culture, inhibited SARS-CoV-2 replication (reduction >99%) in Vero E6 cells, possibly due to disruption of the virion structure, as observed using the RNase protection assay. However, curcumin was not effective as a prophylactic treatment on already-infected Vero E6 cells. Notably, when curcumin was employed as a photosensitizer and blue laser light at 445 nm was delivered to a mix of curcumin/virus prior to the inoculation on the cells, virus inactivation was observed (>99%) using doses of curcumin that were not antiviral by themselves. Photodynamic therapy employing crude curcumin can be suggested as an antiviral option against SARS-CoV-2 infection.