Erythromycin, retapamulin, pyridoxine, folic acid, and ivermectin inhibit cytopathic effect, papain-like protease, and MPRO enzymes of SARS-CoV-2

• DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1273982
• Publication Date: 2023-11-27T06:56:51Z
• Authors: Shaibu Oricha Bello; Mustapha Umar Imam; Muhammad Bashir B...; Abdulmajeed Yunusa; Adamu Ahmed Adamu; Abdulmalik Shuaibu; Ehimario Uche Igu...; Zaiyad Garba Habib; Mustapha Ayodele ...; Chinwe Lucia Ochu; Aishatu Yahaya Bello; Yusuf Yahaya Deeni; Ifeoma Okoye
• Keywords: Vero cell

Background Although tremendous success has been achieved in the development and deployment of effective COVID-19 vaccines, developing therapeutics for treatment those who do come down with disease limited success. To repurpose existing drugs COVID-19, we previously showed, qualitatively, that erythromycin, retapamulin, pyridoxine, folic acid, ivermectin inhibit SARS-COV-2-induced cytopathic effect (CPE) Vero cells. Aim This study aimed to quantitatively explore inhibition SARS-CoV-2-induced CPE by determine these on SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease 3CL (M PRO ) enzymes. Methods Neutral red (3-amino-7-dimethylamino-2-methyl-phenazine hydrochloride) cell viability assay was used quantify after infecting pre-treated cells clinical SARS-Cov-2 isolates. Furthermore, SensoLyte ® 520 M activity kits were evaluate inhibitory respective Results Erythromycin, dose-dependently cells, concentration-50 (IC 50 values 3.27 µM, 4.23 9.29 3.19 84.31 respectively. inhibited IC 0.94 0.88 1.14 1.07 1.51 respectively, main 1.35 1.25 7.36 1.15 2.44 Conclusion The all drugs, except ivermectin, at clinically achievable plasma concentration humans, which supports a possible role management COVID-19. lack concentrations could be part explanation its effectiveness trials.