Emetine
An alkaloid compound with emecit and anti-infective properties.
General information
Emetine is an alkaloid eukaryotic ribosomal inhibitor (NCIt) that displays emetic, antiviral, antiprotozoal, and antineoplastic activities (ChEBI). It was computationally modelled and observed to impair the interaction between the SARS-CoV-2 RNA and the host eIF4E translation initiation factor, thus blocking viral proteosynthesis and further replication (Kumar et al., 2021).
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Supporting references
| Link | Tested on | Impact factor | Notes | Publication date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Screening of FDA-approved drugs using a MERS-CoV clinical isolate from South Korea identifies potential therapeutic options for COVID-19
Preprint Screening |
VERO cells | Mar/19/2020 | ||
|
Antiviral options against SARS-CoV-2 infection
Preprint Screening |
VERO E6 cell cultures | synergistic effect in combination with the virus-directed drug nelfinavir |
May/12/2020 | |
|
Discovery of Synergistic and Antagonistic Drug Combinations against SARS-CoV-2 In Vitro
Preprint In silico |
VERO E6 cell cultures | synergistic effect in combination with nitazoxanide or NCGC00411883-01 |
Jul/01/2020 | |
|
Transcription-based drug repurposing for COVID-19
Small molecule In silico |
in silico | 2.93 | Predicted to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 based on transcriptional response (virus defence-like) profile. |
Sep/25/2020 |
|
The potential of Paritaprevir and Emetine as inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 RdRp
RdRpol Small molecule In silico |
in silico | 2.80 | Predicted to inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. |
Dec/02/2020 |
|
Identification of existing pharmaceuticals and herbal medicines as inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 infection
3CLpro PapainLpro Enzyme assay Animal model In vitro In silico |
in silico; in vitro enzyme assay; Vero E6 cells; golden Syrian hamsters; SARS-CoV-2 clinical isolate hCoV-19/Taiwan/4/2020 | 9.41 | Inhibited SARS-CoV-2 infection in Vero E6 cells with high selectivity index. |
Jan/15/2021 |
|
Emetine suppresses SARS-CoV-2 replication by inhibiting interaction of viral mRNA with eIF4E
Small molecule In vitro Mechanism |
Vero cells; SARS-CoV-2 strain SARS-CoV-2/Human-tc/India/2020/Hisar-4907 | 4.10 | The drug inhibits SARS-CoV-2 in Vero cells at an EC50 of 0.147 nM and with an SI of 10910.4. Emetine treatment led to a decrease in viral protein synthesis. Based on computational modelling and ChIP assay-based experiments, the drug was suggested to block the interaction between viral RNA and the eIF4E translation initiation factor. Targeting the ERK/MNK1/eIF4E signalling pathway by other means was shown to reduce SARS-CoV-2 replication, as well, which further supports the suggested model of emetine’s mechanism of action. |
Mar/10/2021 |
