Volume 35, Issue 12 pp. 6963-6973
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Garcinia kola and garcinoic acid suppress SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein S1-induced hyper-inflammation in human PBMCs through inhibition of NF-κB activation

Olumayokun A Olajide

Corresponding Author

Olumayokun A Olajide

Department of Pharmacy, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, UK

Correspondence

Olumayokun A Olajide, Department of Pharmacy, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, HD1 3DH, UK.

Email: [email protected]

Search for more papers by this author
Victoria U Iwuanyanwu

Victoria U Iwuanyanwu

Department of Pharmacy, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, UK

Search for more papers by this author
Izabela Lepiarz-Raba

Izabela Lepiarz-Raba

Department of Pharmacy, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, UK

Search for more papers by this author
Alaa A Al-Hindawi

Alaa A Al-Hindawi

Department of Pharmacy, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, UK

Search for more papers by this author
Mutalib A Aderogba

Mutalib A Aderogba

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Search for more papers by this author
Hazel L Sharp

Hazel L Sharp

PhytoQuest Ltd, Plas Gogerddan, Aberystwyth, UK

Search for more papers by this author
Robert J Nash

Robert J Nash

PhytoQuest Ltd, Plas Gogerddan, Aberystwyth, UK

Search for more papers by this author
First published: 26 October 2021
Citations: 9

Abstract

Symptoms and complications associated with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and organ damage have been linked to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein S1-induced increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines by immune cells. In this study, the effects of an extract of Garcinia kola seeds and garcinoic acid were investigated in SARS-CoV-2 spike protein S1-stimulated human PBMCs. Results of ELISA experiments revealed that Garcinia kola extract (6.25, 12.5, and 25 μg/ml) and garcinoic acid (1.25, 2.5, and 5 μM) significantly reduced SARS-CoV-2 spike protein S1-induced secretion of TNFα, IL-6, IL-1β, and IL-8 in PBMCs. In-cell western assays showed that pre-treatment with Garcinia kola extract and garcinoic acid reduced expressions of both phospho-p65 and phospho-IκBα proteins, as well as NF-κB DNA binding capacity and NF-κB-driven luciferase expression following stimulation of PBMCs with spike protein S1. Furthermore, pre-treatment of PBMCs with Garcinia kola extract prior to stimulation with SARS-CoV-2 spike protein S1 resulted in reduced damage to adjacent A549 lung epithelial cells. These results suggest that the seed of Garcinia kola and garcinoic acid are natural products which may possess pharmacological/therapeutic benefits in reducing cytokine storm in severe SARS-CoV-2 and other coronavirus infections.

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

The full text of this article hosted at iucr.org is unavailable due to technical difficulties.