AUTHOR=Fan Yaohua , Zhang Qiong , Zhang Wen , Lai Yanni , Long Haishan , Huang Huiting , Zhan Shaofeng , Liu Xiaohong , Lai Jielan , Zhang Zhongde , Pan Pan , Su Ziren , Li Geng 

TITLE=Inhibitory effects of Patchouli alcohol on the early lifecycle stages of influenza A virus

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.938868

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2022.938868

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Background</title><p>The antiviral activity and underlying mechanism of Patchouli alcohol remain unclear.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>This study evaluated the cytotoxicity, optimal methods for drug administration, anti-influenza A activity of Patchouli alcohol. The antiviral mechanism of Patchouli alcohol was also assessed <italic>via</italic> qRT-PCR, western blot, hemagglutination inhibiting (HAI) assay, and hemolysis inhibiting assay.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>Patchouli alcohol was shown to have low cytotoxicity and its strongest antiviral effect was associated with premixed administration. Patchouli alcohol inhibited virus replication during the early lifecycle stages of influenza A virus infection and specifically prevented expression of the viral proteins, HA and NP. In both the HAI and hemolysis inhibiting assays, Patchouli alcohol was able to block HA2-mediated membrane fusion under low pH conditions. Patchouli alcohol had lower binding energy with HA2 than HA1.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>These findings suggest that Patchouli alcohol could be a promising membrane fusion inhibitor for the treatment of influenza A infection.</p></sec>