In-vitro Assessment of Antiviral Activity of the Herbo Mineral Capsule, Fema SakthiTM, against Human Coronavirus (HCoV) on VERO Cells

Shaleesha A Stanley; Abinaya  Elango; Arunkumar Radhakrishnan; Sushil Chittrarasan; Sri Vignesh Ravi; Radhakrishnan C; Sahila  Joe

Shaleesha A Stanley Professor, Department of Biotechnology, Jeppiaar Engineering College, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India.
Abinaya Elango Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam, Chengalpattu (Dt), Tamilnadu, India.
Arunkumar Radhakrishnan Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam, Chengalpattu (Dt), Tamilnadu, India.
Sushil Chittrarasan Post Graduate, Department of Pharmacology, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam, Chengalpattu (Dt), Tamilnadu, India.
Sri Vignesh Ravi Post Graduate, Department of Pharmacology, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam, Chengalpattu (Dt), Tamilnadu, India.
Radhakrishnan C Chairman and Managing Director, Buy Happy Marketing LLP & VIMAC, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India.
Sahila Joe CEO - Buy Happy Marketing LLP, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India.

Keywords: Antiviral Activity, VERO Cells, Human Coronavirus, Fema Sakthiâ„¢

Abstract

Introduction: With the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers and patients look for alternate medicines including Siddha, Ayurveda, Unani and other forms of traditional medicines as we still do not have promising antiviral drugs for COVID-19.

Objective: To evaluate the in-vitro antiviral activity of Fema Sakthiâ„¢ (FS) by eliciting the inhibition of cytopathic effect of Human Coronavirus (HCoV) on African Green Monkey kidney cells (VERO cells).

Materials and Method: The cytopathic effect (CPE) was performed on Vero cells with Human Coronavirus 229E, a type of Coronavirus associated with respiratory infections. The Median Tissue Culture Infectious Dose (TCID50) was evaluated using Reed-Muench method. 100 TCID50 of HCoV 229E viral suspensions were added to VERO cell culture to induce the cytopathic effect. Uninfected and untreated cells were used as control and five concentrations (62.5, 125, 250, 500 & 1000 Âµg/mL) of Fema Sakthiâ„¢ (FS) were used to study the anti-viral activity. After incubation for 72 hours, the cell viability was observed under the inverted microscope after staining with 0.1% crystal violet.

Results: Fema Sakthiâ„¢ (FS) was found to exhibit inhibition of cytopathic effect at lower concentrations (62.5, 125 and 250 Âµg/mL) but at higher concentrations (500 and 1000 Âµg/mL), the formulation itself was cytotoxic to the cells.

Conclusion: This preliminary study showed that FS has antiviral activity at lower concentrations 62.5, 125 and 250 Âµg/mL on the VERO cells. However, further specific studies have to be carried out to confirm the anti-viral activity and clinical efficacy using other preclinical and clinical models of Human Coronavirus (HCoV) including COVID-19.

How to cite this article:
Stanley SA, Elango A, Radhakrishnan A, Chittrarasan S, Ravi SV, Radhakrishnan C, Joe S. In-vitro Assessment of Antiviral Activity of the Herbo Mineral Capsule, Fema Sakthi^TM, against Human Coronavirus (HCoV) on VERO Cells. Special Issue - COVID-19 & Other Communicable Disease. 2022;120-123.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/0019.5138.202219

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