Anti-viral compounds from Jatropha curcas seed extract with anti-HIV-1 and anti-SARS-CoV-2 action

Abstract

Many studies have dealt with the medicinal properties of Jatropha curcas;however, there are limited studies on the scope of its antiviral potential. This is a fact associated with the current challenges posed by HIV-AIDS and COVID-19, which has reinforced the need to expand the knowledge about its antiviral resource. Based on the search for natural products with anti-HIV-1 and anti-SARS-CoV-2 activities, this work analyzed the extract of J. curcas seed, the structure of the plant whose antiviral references were not found in the literature, and the compounds that can potentiate it as a candidate for herbal medicine. GC-MS analysis was used to screen for the active substances of the J. curcas seeds, and the literature was searched to find those with anti-HIV-1 and anti-SARS-CoV-2 indication. The results showed they have 27 compounds, of which glycerol 1-palmitate, stigmasterol and gamma-sitosterol were shown to have antiviral action in the literature. Regarding glycerol 1-palmitate, no detailed description of its antiviral action was found. Stigmasterol and gamma-sitosterol act as anti-HIV-1 and anti-SARS-CoV-2, respectively, inhibiting the reverse transcriptase of HIV-1, the proteases 3CLpro, PLpro and the spike proteins of SARS-CoV-2. However, despite the fact that the extract of J. curcas seeds consist of antiviral compounds that fight against the etiological agents of HIV-AIDS and COVID-19, it is concluded that there is a need to deepen this evidence, by in vitro and in vivo assays.