Comparative Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Salix Cortex Extracts and Acetylsalicylic Acid in SARS-CoV-2 Peptide and LPS-Activated Human In Vitro Systems.

Abstract

The usefulness of anti-inflammatory drugs as an adjunct therapy to improve outcomes in COVID-19 patients is intensely discussed in this paper. Willow bark (Salix cortex) has been used for centuries to relieve pain, inflammation, and fever. Its main active ingredient, salicin, is metabolized in the human body into salicylic acid, the precursor of the commonly used pain drug acetylsalicylic acid (ASA). Here, we report on the in vitro anti-inflammatory efficacy of two methanolic Salix extracts, standardized to phenolic compounds, in comparison to ASA in the context of a SARS-CoV-2 peptide challenge. Using SARS-CoV-2 peptide/IL-1β- or LPS-activated human PBMCs and an inflammatory intestinal Caco-2/HT29-MTX co-culture, Salix extracts, and ASA concentration-dependently suppressed prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a principal mediator of inflammation. The inhibition of COX-2 enzyme activity, but not protein expression was observed for ASA and one Salix extract. In activated PBMCs, the suppression of relevant cytokines (i.e., IL-6, IL-1β, and IL-10) was seen for both Salix extracts. The anti-inflammatory capacity of Salix extracts was still retained after transepithelial passage and liver cell metabolism in an advanced co-culture model system consisting of intestinal Caco-2/HT29-MTX cells and differentiated hepatocyte-like HepaRG cells. Taken together, our in vitro data suggest that Salix extracts might present an additional anti-inflammatory treatment option in the context of SARS-CoV-2 peptides challenge; however, more confirmatory data are needed.

• Authors: Nguyen Phan Khoi Le, Corinna Herz, João Victor Dutra Gomes, Nadja Förster, Kyriaki Antoniadou, Verena Karolin Mittermeier-Kleßinger, Inga Mewis, Corinna Dawid, Christian Ulrichs, Evelyn Lamy
• Journal: International journal of molecular sciences (Int J Mol Sci) Vol. 22 Issue 13 (Jun 23 2021) ISSN: 1422-0067 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 34201817 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Benzyl Alcohols
• Cytokines
• Glucosides
• Lipopolysaccharides
• Plant Extracts
• salicin
• Cyclooxygenase 2
• Dinoprostone
• Aspirin

Topics

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Aspirin (pharmacology)
• Benzyl Alcohols (metabolism)
• COVID-19 (immunology, virology)
• Caco-2 Cells
• Cyclooxygenase 2 (drug effects)
• Cytokines (metabolism)
• Dinoprostone (metabolism)
• Glucosides (metabolism)
• HT29 Cells
• Humans
• Inflammation
• Leukocytes, Mononuclear (drug effects)
• Lipopolysaccharides (immunology)
• Plant Bark (chemistry)
• Plant Extracts (chemistry, pharmacology)
• SARS-CoV-2 (immunology)
• COVID-19 Drug Treatment