5-amino levulinic acid inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro

Abstract The current COVID-19 pandemic requires urgent development of effective therapeutics. 5-amino levulinic acid (5-ALA) is a naturally synthesized amino acid and has been used for multiple purposes including as an anticancer therapy and as a dietary supplement due to its high bioavailability. I...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inbioRxiv
Main Authors Sakurai, Yasuteru, Mya Myat Ngwe Tun, Kurosaki, Yohei, Sakura, Takaya, Inaoka, Daniel Ken, Fujine, Kiyotaka, Kita, Kiyoshi, Morita, Kouichi, Yasuda, Jiro
Format Paper
LanguageEnglish
Published Cold Spring Harbor Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press 28.10.2020
Subjects
Amino acids
Bioavailability
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
Cytotoxicity
Dietary supplements
Drug development
Pandemics
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
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Summary:Abstract The current COVID-19 pandemic requires urgent development of effective therapeutics. 5-amino levulinic acid (5-ALA) is a naturally synthesized amino acid and has been used for multiple purposes including as an anticancer therapy and as a dietary supplement due to its high bioavailability. In this study, we demonstrated that 5-ALA treatment potently inhibited infection of SARS-CoV-2, a causative agent of COVID-19. The antiviral effects could be detected in both human and non-human cells, without significant cytotoxicity. Therefore, 5-ALA is a candidate as an oral antiviral drug for COVID-19. Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.
DOI:10.1101/2020.10.28.355305