Mechanistic Evaluation of the Antiviral Potential of Two Commercial Herbal Products

CarvenS (Thymus vulgaris & Glycyrrhiza glabra Extract Stevia Syrup) and Maxerin (Mentha piperita aetheroleum solution) are used both for cold and flu symptoms in Türkiye. In this present study, the in vitro ACE2, TMPRSS2 and neuraminidase (NA) enzyme inhibitory potentials of the preparations were evaluated experimentally. CarvenS contains standardised Thymus vulgaris and Glycyrrhiza glabra extracts in a stevia syrup form. Maxerin, on the other hand, is a topically applied medical device with Mentha piperita essential oil. In vitro enzyme inhibition assays were conducted using a fixed 20 µg/mL concentration with commercially available “Angiotensin II Converting Enzyme (ACE2) Inhibitor Screening”, “Neuraminidase Activity”, and “TMPRSS2 Fluorogenic” Assay Kits by a microplate reader system in fluorescence mode. The ACE2 comparative data for CarvenS and Maxerin were measured as 81% and 76% inhibition, respectively. The in vitro TMPRSS2 inhibition of CarvenS and Maxerin was with 89% and 75% relatively high. Finally, the NA inhibition results for CarvenS and Maxerin were determined as 85% and 78%, respectively. Further detailed experimental studies are ongoing to confirm this effect of the preparations.

Funding This study was supported by EnaFarma Comp., Istanbul, Türkiye.

 

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Conflict of Interest

The authors declare commercial interest in this study with EnaFarma Co.

Publication History

Article published online:
16 November 2023