A potential antiviral against COVID-19 obtained from Byrsonima coccolobifolia leaves extract

Abstract

In this study, we specifically focused on the crude methanolic leaf extract of Byrsonima coccolobifolia, investigating its antifungal potential against human pathogenic fungi and its antiviral activity against COVID-19. Through the use of high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization ion trap tandem mass spectrometry, direct infusion electrospray ionization ion trap tandem mass spectrometry, and chromatographic dereplication procedures, we identified galloyl quinic acid derivatives, catechin derivatives, proanthocyanidins, and flavonoid glycosides. The broth dilution assay revealed that the methanolic leaf extract of B. coccolobifolia exhibits antifungal activity against Cryptococcus neoformans (IC50 = 4 μg/mL). Additionally, docking studies were conducted to elucidate the interactions between the identified compounds and the central residues at the binding site of biological targets associated with COVID-19. Furthermore, the extract demonstrated an in vitro half-maximum effective concentration (EC50 = 7 μg/mL) and exhibited significant selectivity (>90%) toward SARS-CoV-2.