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Peinsipp, P; Gerlza, T; Kircher, J; Zatloukal, K; Jaeger, C; Pucher, P; Kungl, AJ.
Antiviral Activity of Haematococcus pluvialis Algae Extract Is Not Exclusively Due to Astaxanthin
PATHOGENS. 2025; 14(8): 791 Doi: 10.3390/pathogens14080791 [OPEN ACCESS]
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Co-authors Med Uni Graz: Zatloukal Kurt
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Abstract:: In this study, astaxanthin, which has previously been shown to have antiviral effects, was examined for its dose-dependent potency to inhibit cellular SARS-CoV-2 infections. Naturally occurring astaxanthin is obtained and orally administered as ASX-oleoresin, a composition of different astaxanthin fatty acid esters. We therefore hypothesized that the compound's beneficial effects are not only related to astaxanthin. Thus, a "green" algae extract (i.e., poor astaxanthin content < 0.2%; ASX(p)) of the microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis, as well as an astaxanthin-rich algae extract (astaxanthin content = 20%; ASX (R)), were tested in in vitro cellular viral infection assays. Thereby, it was found that both extracts reduced viral infections significantly. As a potential mode of inhibitory action, the binding of ASX-oleoresin to the viral spike protein was investigated by isothermal fluorescence titration, revealing binding affinities of Kd = 1.05 M for ASX (R) and Kd = 1.42 mu M for ASX(p). Based on our data, we conclude that several ASX-oleoresin fractions from H. pluvialis exhibit antiviral activity, which extends beyond the known antioxidant activity of astaxanthin. From a molecular dynamic simulation of ASX-oleoresin, fatty acid domains could be considered as activity-chaperoning factors of ASX. Therefore, microalgae biomass should be considered in the future for further antiviral activities.
Find related publications in this database (Keywords): astaxanthin; algae; antiviral effect; Haematococcus pluvialis; SARS-CoV-2