title: Anti-SARS coronavirus 3C-like protease effects of Rheum palmatum L. extracts.
abstract: The present study aims to clarify the inhibitive effect of the compounds from Rheum palmatum L. on the SARS-3CL protease. The SARS-CoV 3CL gene was amplified from RNA of the SARS virus by PCR. The SARS-CoV 3CL protease was purified from a colon bacillus recombinant. Drugs and 3CL protease were incubated together. The inhibition rate and IC(50) were calculated based on absorbance. Components from the Rheum palmatum L. had a high level of anti-SARS-CoV 3CL protease activity. The IC(50) was 13.76 +/- 0.03 microg/mL and the inhibition rate was up to 96%. In conclusion, extracts from Rheum palmatum L. have a high level of inhibitory activity against 3CL protease, suggesting that extracts from Rheum palmatum L. may represent a potential therapeutic for SARS.
authors.affiliation: Guilin Medical College, Guilin, Guangxi, China.
authors.forename: Weisheng
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Xiaojian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Shouji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Yongjun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Weibing
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Haiping
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000086782:Coronavirus 3C Proteases; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012250:Rheum / Q000737:chemistry*; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D014764:Viral Proteins; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; D000086782:Coronavirus 3C Proteases