2. Academic Validation
  3. Antiviral activity of Stephania japonica extract against porcine epidemic diarrhea virus infection

Antiviral activity of Stephania japonica extract against porcine epidemic diarrhea virus infection

  • Vet Microbiol. 2025 Sep:308:110647. doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2025.110647.
Yong Zhao 1,  Baochao Fan 2,  Yi Wang 2,  Min Sun 2,  Rongli Guo 2,  Tao Tang 3,  Mi Hu 4,  Bin Li 5
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China; Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210014, China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China; Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China; GuoTai (Taizhou) Center of Technology Innovation for Veterinary Biologicals, Taizhou, Jiangsu 225300, China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing 102206, China; Key Laboratory of Veterinary Bioengineering and Technology, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210014, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety - State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210014, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China.
  • 2 Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210014, China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China; Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China; GuoTai (Taizhou) Center of Technology Innovation for Veterinary Biologicals, Taizhou, Jiangsu 225300, China; Key Laboratory of Veterinary Bioengineering and Technology, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210014, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety - State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210014, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China.
  • 3 College of Veterinary Medicine, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing 102206, China.
  • 4 Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210014, China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China; Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China; GuoTai (Taizhou) Center of Technology Innovation for Veterinary Biologicals, Taizhou, Jiangsu 225300, China; Key Laboratory of Veterinary Bioengineering and Technology, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210014, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety - State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210014, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China. Electronic address: bomdiami@163.com.
  • 5 College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China; Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210014, China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China; Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China; GuoTai (Taizhou) Center of Technology Innovation for Veterinary Biologicals, Taizhou, Jiangsu 225300, China; Key Laboratory of Veterinary Bioengineering and Technology, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210014, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety - State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210014, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China. Electronic address: libinana@126.com.
PMID: 40706130 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2025.110647
Abstract

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is a major cause of diarrhea in piglets, causing substantial economic losses to the global swine industry. At present, no specific Antiviral medications are available to treat PEDV infections. Natural compounds, with their wide availability, diverse biological activities, and low toxicity, have emerged as promising candidates for Antiviral drug discovery. This study screened eight plant-derived Bisbenzylisoquinoline Alkaloids, including cepharanthine and tetrandrine, to assess their anti-PEDV activity in vitro. The results demonstrated that cepharanthine extracts significantly reduced viral titers and genome copies, indicating strong anti-PEDV activity. Notably, the botanical extracts exerted Antiviral effects at both the initial stage of Infection and the late phase of virion release, as evidenced by reduced viral output and suppressed mRNA synthesis. Molecular docking and dynamic analyses revealed that cepharanthine binds to PEDV 3CLpro (Mpro) protease through hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions, forming a stable complex. This interaction likely impairs Mpro function, thereby inhibiting viral replication and the synthesis of related proteins. In vivo experiments further confirmed that piglets treated with cepharanthine extracts exhibited significantly lower viral loads and better preservation of intestinal structure compared to the control group. These findings provide key insights into the Antiviral effects of cepharanthine extracts, supporting their potential for further development as anti-PEDV therapies and as a foundation for plant-derived Antiviral compound research.

Keywords

Antiviral activity; Bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids; Cepharanthine extract; PEDV.

Figures
Products