Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40346667›Full record

ArticleVirology journal2025

Inhibitory effect of Alantolactone against varicella-zoster virus in vitro.

Xinna Wu, Yunchuang Chang, Chengcheng Kong, Zhiwei Ding, Dongli Pan, Ping Lin, Sanying Wang, Genxiang Mao

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Virology journal, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Xinna Wu *Affiliated Zhejiang Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No.1229 Gudun Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou, 310030, China.
Yunchuang Chang *Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Geriatrics and Geriatrics Institute of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Hospital, No.1229 Gudun Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou, 310030, China.
Chengcheng KongGeriatric Department of the 3rd Hospital of Hangzhou, Hangzhou, 310009, China.
Zhiwei DingZhejiang Key Laboratory of Geriatrics and Geriatrics Institute of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Hospital, No.1229 Gudun Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou, 310030, China.
Dongli PanDepartment of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310030, China.
Ping LinGeriatric Department of the 3rd Hospital of Hangzhou, Hangzhou, 310009, China. Yjlp1@163.com.
Sanying WangZhejiang Key Laboratory of Geriatrics and Geriatrics Institute of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Hospital, No.1229 Gudun Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou, 310030, China. sanyingwang309@126.com.
Genxiang MaoAffiliated Zhejiang Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No.1229 Gudun Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou, 310030, China. maogenxiang@zju.edu.cn.

Funding

Hangzhou Health Science and Technology Plan A20220018Hangzhou Health Science and Technology Plan ZD2022005Key project joint construction by Science and Technology Department of National Administration of TCM and Zhejiang Administration of TCM GZY-ZJ-KJ-23088Key project joint construction by Science and Technology Department of National Administration of TCM and Zhejiang Administration of TCM GZY-ZJ-KJ-24055
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundVaricella-zoster virus (VZV), a member of the α-herpesvirus family, is known for causing two distinct diseases: chickenpox (varicella) during the primary infection and shingles (zoster) due to reactivation of the virus later in life. Although there are vaccines available to prevent VZV infection, it is still not universally effective, and antiviral treatments for VZV are limited and may come with significant side effects. Thus, development of novel therapeutics is urgently needed.

methodsWe identified a naturally occurring Alantolactone (ALT) that inhibited replication of recombinant VZV in human diploid fibroblast (WI-38 cells) and Adult Retinal Pigment Epithelial cell line-19 (ARPE-19 cells) through Western blotting, qPCR and plaque assays. Subsequently, we explored the mechanism underlying the anti-VZV activity of ALT using time-of-addition experiments and transcriptomic analyses.

resultsA screening model was established for anti-VZV compounds, and we screened ALT was with good anti-VZV efficacy. Our findings revealed that ALT alleviated cytopathic changes, reduced viral titres, and inhibited the expression of viral genes and proteins in WI-38 cells and ARPE-19 cells. Furthermore, our data showed that ALT inhibited VZV infection in intracellular viral replication. Finally, multiple inflammatory pathways were involved in the antiviral role of ALT, and IL-6 was one of the most critical hub genes.

conclusionTogether, our findings identify ALT as an anti-VZV agent that may prove useful in the treatment of VZV replication.

Indexed as

Antiviral AgentsHerpesvirus 3, HumanLactonesCell LineFibroblastsGene Expression ProfilingHumansSesquiterpenes, EudesmaneVirus ReplicationalantolactoneAntiviral AgentsLactonesSesquiterpenes, EudesmaneAlantolactoneIL-6Screening modelVaricella-zoster virus

Identifiers

PMID40346667
PMCPMC12063397

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.