Evidence mapPaperPMID 39854441Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

Secondary metabolites of Alternaria alternate appraisal of their SARS-CoV-2 inhibitory and anti-inflammatory potentials.

Fatma A Moharram, Reham R Ibrahim, Shahenda Mahgoub, Mohamed S Abdel-Aziz, Ahmed M Said, Hui-Chi Huang, Lo-Yun Chen, Kuei-Hung Lai, Nashwa Hashad, Mohamed S Mady

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Fatma A MoharramDepartment of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt.
Reham R IbrahimDepartment of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt.
Shahenda MahgoubBiochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt.
Mohamed S Abdel-AzizGenetic Engineering and Biotechnology Division, Microbial Chemistry Department, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt.
Ahmed M SaidDepartment of Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt.
Hui-Chi HuangSchool of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Lo-Yun ChenGraduate Institute of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Kuei-Hung LaiGraduate Institute of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7220-6356
Nashwa HashadDepartment of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt.
Mohamed S MadyDepartment of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8754-0442

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

This study identifies the secondary metabolites from Alternaria alternate and evaluates their ACE-2: Spike RBD (SARS-CoV-2) inhibitory activity confirmed via immunoblotting in human lung microvascular endothelial cells. In addition, their in vitro anti-inflammatory potential was assessed using a cell-based assay in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. Two novel compounds, altenuline (1), phthalic acid bis (7'/7'' pentyloxy) isohexyl ester (2), along with 1-deoxyrubralactone (3) alternariol-5-O-methyl ether (4) and alternariol (5) were identified. Molecular docking and in vitro studies showed that compounds 2 and 4 were promising to counteract SARS-CoV-2 attachment to human ACE-2. Thus, they are considered promising natural anti-viral agents. SwissADME in silico analysis was conducted to predict the drug-like potential. Immunoblotting analysis confirmed that the tested compounds (1-4) demonstrated downregulation of ACE-2 expression in the endothelial cells from the lungs with variable degrees. Furthermore, the tested compounds (1-4) showed promising anti-inflammatory activities through TNF-α: TNFR2 inhibitory activity and their inhibitory effect on the proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) in LPS-stimulated monocytes. In conclusion, our study, for the first time, provides beneficial experimental confirmation for the efficiency of the A. alternate secondary metabolites for the treatment of COVID-19 as they hinder SARS-CoV-2 infection and lower inflammatory responses initiated by SARS-CoV-2. A. alternate and its metabolites are considered in developing preventative and therapeutic tactics for COVID-19.

Indexed as

AlternariaAnti-Inflammatory AgentsAntiviral AgentsSARS-CoV-2Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2AnimalsCOVID-19COVID-19 Drug TreatmentEndothelial CellsHumansLungMiceMolecular Docking SimulationRAW 264.7 CellsSecondary MetabolismSpike Glycoprotein, CoronavirusACE2 protein, humanAngiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2Anti-Inflammatory AgentsAntiviral AgentsSpike Glycoprotein, Coronavirusspike protein, SARS-CoV-2

Identifiers

PMID39854441
PMCPMC11760621

What Socratic holds

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.