In Vitro Determination of Inhibitory Effects of Humic Substances Complexing Zn and Se on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Replication

Polett Hajdrik; Bernadett Pályi; Zoltán Kis; Noémi Kovács; Dániel Sándor Veres; Krisztián Szigeti; Ferenc Budán; Imre Hegedüs; Tibor Kovács; Ralf Bergmann; Domokos Máthé

doi:10.3390/foods11050694

In Vitro Determination of Inhibitory Effects of Humic Substances Complexing Zn and Se on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Replication

Foods. 2022 Feb 26;11(5):694. doi: 10.3390/foods11050694.

Authors

Polett Hajdrik¹, Bernadett Pályi², Zoltán Kis^{2

3}, Noémi Kovács^{1

4}, Dániel Sándor Veres¹, Krisztián Szigeti¹, Ferenc Budán^{5

6}, Imre Hegedüs¹, Tibor Kovács⁷, Ralf Bergmann^{1

8}, Domokos Máthé^{1

4

9}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, Üllői út 26., H-1085 Budapest, Hungary.
² National Biosafety Laboratory, National Public Health Center, Albert Flórián út 2-6, H-1097 Budapest, Hungary.
³ Department of Microbiology, Semmelweis University, Üllői út 26., H-1085 Budapest, Hungary.
⁴ CROmed Translational Research Ltd., Tűzoltó u. 37-47, H-1094 Budapest, Hungary.
⁵ Institute of Transdisciplinary Discoveries, Medical School, University of Pécs, Ifjúság útja 11, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary.
⁶ Institute of Physiology, Medical School, University of Pécs, Szigeti út 12, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary.
⁷ Institute of Radiochemistry and Radioecology, University of Pannonia, Egyetem u. 10., H-8200 Veszprem, Hungary.
⁸ Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden Rossendorf, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany.
⁹ Hungarian Centre of Excellence for Molecular Medicine, In Vivo Imaging Advanced Core Facility, Semmelweis University Site, Római Blvd. 21, H-6723 Szeged, Hungary.

Abstract

(1) Background: Humic substances are well-known human nutritional supplement materials and they play an important performance-enhancing role as animal feed additives. For decades, ingredients of humic substances have been proven to carry potent antiviral effects against different viruses. (2) Methods: Here, the antiviral activity of a humic substance containing ascorbic acid, Se^- and Zn²⁺ ions intended as a nutritional supplement material was investigated against SARS-CoV-2 virus B1.1.7 Variant of Concern ("Alpha Variant") in a VeroE6 cell line. (3) Results: This combination has a significant in vitro antiviral effect at a very low concentration range of its intended active ingredients. (4) Conclusions: Even picomolar concentration ranges of humic substances, Vitamin C and Zn/Se ions in the given composition, were enough to achieve 50% viral replication inhibition in the applied SARS-CoV-2 virus inhibition test.

Keywords: RT-PCR; SARS-CoV-2; Zn-Se-ascorbic acid complex; antiviral activity; fulvic acid; humic acid.

Abstract

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