Scutellaria baicalensis extract and baicalein inhibit replication of SARS-CoV-2 and its 3C-like protease in vitro

• DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2021.1873977
• Publication Date: 2021-01-25T07:08:34Z
• Authors: Hongbo Liu; Fei Ye; Qi Sun; Hao Liang; Chunmei Li; Siyang Li; Roujian Lu; Baoying Huang; Wenjie Tan; Luhua Lai
• Keywords: Baicalein; Vero cell; Coronavirus; IC50; EC50

COVID-19 has become a global pandemic and there is an urgent call for developing drugs against the virus (SARS-CoV-2). The 3C-like protease (3CLpro) of SARS-CoV-2 preferred target broad spectrum anti-coronavirus drug discovery. We studied anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity S. baicalensis its ingredients. found that ethanol extract major component, baicalein, inhibit 3CLpro in vitro with IC50's 8.52 µg/ml 0.39 µM, respectively. Both them replication Vero cells EC50's 0.74 2.9 While baicalein mainly active at viral post-entry stage, also inhibits entry. further identified four analogues from other herbs µM concentration. All compounds SARS-CoV 3CLpro, demonstrating their potential as broad-spectrum drugs.