5-amino levulinic acid inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro.

Abstract

The current COVID-19 pandemic requires urgent development of effective therapeutics. 5-amino levulinic acid (5-ALA) is a naturally synthesized amino acid and has been used for multiple purposes including as an anticancer therapy and as a dietary supplement due to its high bioavailability. In this study, we demonstrated that 5-ALA treatment potently inhibited infection of SARS-CoV-2, a causative agent of COVID-19, in cell culture. The antiviral effects could be detected in both human and non-human cells, without significant cytotoxicity. Therefore, 5-ALA is worth to be further investigated as an antiviral drug candidate for COVID-19.

• Authors: Yasuteru Sakurai, Mya Myat Ngwe Tun, Yohei Kurosaki, Takaya Sakura, Daniel Ken Inaoka, Kiyotaka Fujine, Kiyoshi Kita, Kouichi Morita, Jiro Yasuda
• Journal: Biochemical and biophysical research communications (Biochem Biophys Res Commun) Vol. 545 Pg. 203-207 (03 19 2021) ISSN: 1090-2104 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 33571909 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents
• Ferrous Compounds
• Levulinic Acids
• Citric Acid
• ferrous citrate

Topics

• Animals
• Antiviral Agents (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• COVID-19 (prevention & control, virology)
• Caco-2 Cells
• Chlorocebus aethiops
• Citric Acid
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Drug Evaluation, Preclinical (methods)
• Ferrous Compounds (pharmacology)
• Humans
• Levulinic Acids (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Vero Cells
• COVID-19 Drug Treatment
• Aminolevulinic Acid