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. 2024 Aug 8:13:27536130241268100.
doi: 10.1177/27536130241268100. eCollection 2024 Jan-Dec.

The Mechanism of Anti-Viral Activity of a Novel, Hydroponically Selenium-Enriched Garlic Powder (SelenoForce®) Against SARS-CoV-2 Virus

Muhammed Majeed  1   2 , Kalyanam Nagabhushanam  2 , Lincy Lawrence  1 , Priji Prakasan  1 , Lakshmi Mundkur  1
Affiliations

The Mechanism of Anti-Viral Activity of a Novel, Hydroponically Selenium-Enriched Garlic Powder (SelenoForce®) Against SARS-CoV-2 Virus

Muhammed Majeed et al. Glob Adv Integr Med Health. .

Abstract

Abstract: The pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is far from over as new strains are emerging all over the world. Selenium as a micronutrient is important for immunity and also has anti-viral activity.

Objective: The study evaluated the activity of a Selenium enriched garlic powder (SeGP or SelenoForce®) against SARS-CoV-2 viral replication in vitro and explored its possible mechanism of action.

Methods: The anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity assay was carried out in Vero E6 cells in vitro. Human lung carcinoma A549 cells were used to study the antioxidant activity, expression of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), transmembrane protease, serine 2 (TMPRSS2) and the activity of proprotein convertase, and furin. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated in lipopolysaccharide-activated RAW 264.7 cells.

Results: SeGP inhibited the replication of SARS-CoV-2 in Vero E6 cells with an IC50 of 19.59 μg/ml. It exhibited significant antioxidant activity in vitro with IC50 value determined as 43.45 μg/ml. The Selenium enriched product inhibited the expression of ACE and TMPRSS2 and also showed inhibition of furin protease activity. In the presence of SeGP, the secretion of nitric oxide, interleukin -6 and TNF-α were reduced in activated RAW 264.7 macrophages.

Conclusion: The results of the study suggest that Selenium enriched garlic powder could inhibit SARS-CoV-2 multiplication in vitro, reduce oxidative stress and inflammatory mediators suggesting that it could be developed as an effective supplement or adjunct therapy to combat viral infections.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; inflammation; micronutrient; oxidative stress; selenium.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: All the authors are employees of Sami-Sabinsa Group Limited or Sabinsa Corporation, which markets SelenoForce®.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Selenoamino acids and dipeptides present in SeGP.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Cytotoxicity of SeGP in A549 and RAW264.7 cells by MTT assay.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Effect of SeGP on furin activity. Data are expressed as mean ± SD. *P < 0.05 and **P < 0.005 vs control cells.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Relative expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 genes in SeGP (12.5 μg/ml) treated cells compared to untreated control.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Effect of SeGP on H2O2-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in A549 cells. Data are expressed as mean ± SD. #P < 0.0001 vs Control, and *P < 0.05, **P < 0.005 and ***P < 0.0005 vs H2O2 treated cells.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Effect of SeGP on inflammation. (A) NO, (B) TNF-α and (C) IL-6. Data are expressed as mean ± SD. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.005 and **P < 0.0005 vs LPS induced cells.
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