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. 2021 Sep;203(7):4743-4749.
doi: 10.1007/s00203-021-02430-3. Epub 2021 Jun 16.

An in vitro antiviral activity of iodine complexes against SARS-CoV-2

Imran Altaf  1 , Muhammad Faisal Nadeem  2 , Nadir Hussain  1 , Muhammad Nawaz  1 , Sohail Raza  1 , Muhammad Abu Bakr Shabbir  1 , Muhammad Adnan Ashraf  1 , Muhammad Asad Ali  1 , Sohail Hassan  1 , Muhammad Waqar Aziz  1 , Nazish Matti  3 , Muhammad Ashraf  3 , Ihsan Ulla  4 , Sehar Fazal  1 , Saira Rafique  1 , Adnan Mehmood  1 , Nageen Sardar  1 , Muhammad Tahir Khan  1 , Hafiz Muhammad Moavia Atique  1 , Sohaib Ashraf  5 , Zarfishan Tahir  6 , Nadia Mukhtar  6 , Tahir Yaqub  7
Affiliations

An in vitro antiviral activity of iodine complexes against SARS-CoV-2

Imran Altaf et al. Arch Microbiol. 2021 Sep.

Abstract

Since the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic in China in late 2019, scientists are striving hard to explore non-toxic, viable anti-SARS-CoV-2 compounds or medicines. We determined In vitro anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity of oral formulations (syrup and capsule)of an Iodine-complex (Renessans). First, cell cytotoxicity of Renessans on the Vero cells was determined using MTT assay. Afterwards, the antiviral activity of Renessans was determined using viral inhibition assays and TCID50. For this, nontoxic concentrations of the Renessans were used. The results showed that Renessans is nontoxic to the cells up to 50 µg/mL. At 1.5 µg/mL concentration, SARS-CoV-2 production was significantly reduced to 101.43 TCID50 and 101.58 TCID50 for the syrup and capsule, respectively, as compare to virus infected control cells 106.08 TCID50 and we found the dose dependent inhibition of virus replication in the presence of Renessans. Renessans inhibited SARS-CoV-2 with an EC50 value of 0.425 µg/mL and 0.505 µg/mL for syrup and capsule, respectively. Furthermore, there was no virus detected at concentration of 50 µg/mL of Renessans. This study indicates that Renessans, containing iodine, have potential activity against SARS-CoV-2 which needs to be further investigated in human clinical trials.

Keywords: COVID-19; Iodine complex; Renessans; SARS-CoV-2; Virus.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Cell cytotoxicity for Renessans syrup and capsule. a Non-toxic concentrations of the Renessans syrup was measured using MTT assay. b Non-toxic concentrations of the Renessans capsule was measured using MTT assay
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Antiviral effect of Renessans against SARS-CoV-2. a Effect of Renessans syrup on SARS-CoV-2 production on vero cells. b Effect of Renessans Capsule on SARS-CoV-2 production on vero cells. c Normal Vero cells at 200X. d Cytopathic effects (CPE) produced by SARS-CoV-2 at 200X
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Half maximal effective concentration (EC50) of RENESSANS. a EC50 of RENESSANS syrup was calculated using different concentrations of RENESSANS syrup b EC50 of RENESSANS capsule was calculated using different concentrations of RENESSANS capsule. All the experiments were conducted in triplicate and mean values are used to calculate EC50
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