Bark of neem tree may protect against coronavirus variants, study finds
New research reveals Neem-based drugs may help fight future coronavirus variants

Date:
February 28, 2022
Source:
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Summary:
Extract from the bark of the Neem tree may help treat and reduce
the spread of coronavirus, according to a new study. The research
shows that components of Neem bark may target a wide range of
viral proteins, suggesting its potential as an antiviral agent
against emerging variants of coronaviruses (including SARS-CoV-2).



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Extract from the bark of the Neem tree may help treat and reduce the
spread of coronavirus, according to a new study led by scientists at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and the Indian Institute
of Science Education and Research Kolkata.


==========================================================================
The study, reported recently in the journal Virology, shows that
components of Neem bark may target a wide range of viral proteins,
suggesting its potential as an antiviral agent against emerging variants
of coronaviruses (including SARS-CoV-2).

The Neem tree, indigenous to India, has been used for thousands of years
for its anti-parasitic, anti-bacterial and antiviral properties. The
bark extract has helped treat malaria, stomach and intestinal ulcers,
skin diseases and many other diseases.

"The goal of this research is to develop a Neem-based medication that
can reduce the risk of serious illness when someone is infected with coronaviruses," said study co-author Maria Nagel, MD, research professor
in the department of neurology and ophthalmology at the University of
Colorado School of Medicine on the CU Anschutz Medical Campus.

"We hope that scientists won't have to continuously develop new therapies
every time a new SARS-CoV-2 variant emerges," she said. "Just like how
we take penicillin for strep throat, we envision taking the Neem-based
drug for COVID, allowing us to resume our normal lives without fear of hospitalization and death." The scientists investigated the impact of
the bark extract against coronaviruses in their laboratories. In India, researchers tested it in animal models and showed that it had antiviral properties against coronavirus. Using computer modeling, the researchers predicted that Neem bark extract will bind to the SARS-CoV-2 spike
protein at various locations, preventing virus entry to host cells.

At CU Anschutz, Nagel's lab tested the Neem bark extract in SARS-CoV-2
human lung cells. It proved as effective as a preventive drug for
infection and also decreased virus replication and spread after infection.

"The next step in our research is to identify the specific components
in Neem bark extract that are antiviral. Because these components bind
to various regions of SARS-CoV-2, we believe that it will be effective
on emerging variants with spike mutations," said Nagel. "We will then
determine the formulation of dosage for an antiviral drug to treat
coronavirus infections." The scientists said this research could guide
new antiviral therapeutic efforts to combat the ongoing pandemic, while
holding out the promise for treating new coronavirus strains.

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Colorado_Anschutz_Medical_Campus. Original written by
Julia Milzer. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Lucky Sarkar, Lauren Oko, Soham Gupta, Andrew N. Bubak, Bishnu
Das, Parna
Gupta, Abass Alao Safiriyu, Chirag Singhal, Ujjwal Neogi, David
Bloom, Arup Banerjee, Ravi Mahalingam, Randall J. Cohrs, Michael
Koval, Kenneth S. Shindler, Debnath Pal, Maria Nagel, Jayasri
Das Sarma. Azadirachta indica A. Juss bark extract and its Nimbin
isomers restrict b-coronaviral infection and replication. Virology,
2022; 569: 13 DOI: 10.1016/ j.virol.2022.01.002 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/02/220228114351.htm

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