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Volume 16
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10.3390/v16030369
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Correction published on 16 September 2025, see Viruses 2025, 17(9), 1244.
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Article

Antiviral and Virucidal Activities of Uncaria tomentosa (Cat’s Claw) against the Chikungunya Virus

by
Raquel Curtinhas de Lima
1,
Ligia Maria Marino Valente
2,
Débora Familiar Macedo
1,
Luzia Maria de-Oliveira-Pinto
1,
Flavia Barreto dos Santos
1,
José Luiz Mazzei
3,
Antonio Carlos Siani
3,
Priscila Conrado Guerra Nunes
1,† and
Elzinandes Leal de Azeredo
1,*,†
1
Laboratório das Interações Vírus Hospedeiros, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
2
Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Athos da Silveira Ramos, 149, Rio de Janeiro 21941-909, Brazil
3
Laboratório de Tecnologia para Biodiversidade em Saúde, Instituto de Tecnologia de Fármacos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21041-250, Brazil
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Viruses 2024, 16(3), 369; https://doi.org/10.3390/v16030369
Submission received: 30 December 2023 / Revised: 16 February 2024 / Accepted: 21 February 2024 / Published: 27 February 2024 / Corrected: 16 September 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antivirals against Arboviruses)
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Abstract

Uncaria tomentosa (UT) is a medicinal plant popularly known as cat’s claw belonging to the Rubiaceae family that has been reported to display antiviral and anti-inflammatory activities. The chikungunya virus (CHIKV) outbreaks constitute a Brazilian public health concern. CHIKV infection develops an abrupt onset of fever, usually accompanied by a skin rash, besides incapacitating polyarthralgia. There is no vaccine available or treatment for CHIKV infection. The present study evaluates the hydroalcoholic extract of UT bark as a potential antiviral against CHIKV. The in vitro antiviral activity of the UT extract against the Brazilian CHIKV strain was assessed using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, flow cytometry, and plaque assay. Results obtained demonstrated that UT inhibits CHIKV infection in a dose-dependent manner. At the non-cytotoxic concentration of 100 µg/mL, UT exhibited antiviral activity above 90% as determined by plaque reduction assay, and it reduced the viral cytopathic effect. Similarly, a significant virucidal effect of 100 µg/mL UT was observed after 24 and 48 h post-infection. This is the first report on the antiviral activity of UT against CHIKV infection, and the data presented here suggests UT as a potential antiviral to treat CHIKV infection.
Keywords: Chikungunya; Uncaria tomentosa; antiviral and virucidal effects; cat’s claw Chikungunya; Uncaria tomentosa; antiviral and virucidal effects; cat’s claw

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MDPI and ACS Style

de Lima, R.C.; Valente, L.M.M.; Familiar Macedo, D.; de-Oliveira-Pinto, L.M.; dos Santos, F.B.; Mazzei, J.L.; Siani, A.C.; Nunes, P.C.G.; de Azeredo, E.L. Antiviral and Virucidal Activities of Uncaria tomentosa (Cat’s Claw) against the Chikungunya Virus. Viruses 2024, 16, 369. https://doi.org/10.3390/v16030369

AMA Style

de Lima RC, Valente LMM, Familiar Macedo D, de-Oliveira-Pinto LM, dos Santos FB, Mazzei JL, Siani AC, Nunes PCG, de Azeredo EL. Antiviral and Virucidal Activities of Uncaria tomentosa (Cat’s Claw) against the Chikungunya Virus. Viruses. 2024; 16(3):369. https://doi.org/10.3390/v16030369

Chicago/Turabian Style

de Lima, Raquel Curtinhas, Ligia Maria Marino Valente, Débora Familiar Macedo, Luzia Maria de-Oliveira-Pinto, Flavia Barreto dos Santos, José Luiz Mazzei, Antonio Carlos Siani, Priscila Conrado Guerra Nunes, and Elzinandes Leal de Azeredo. 2024. "Antiviral and Virucidal Activities of Uncaria tomentosa (Cat’s Claw) against the Chikungunya Virus" Viruses 16, no. 3: 369. https://doi.org/10.3390/v16030369

APA Style

de Lima, R. C., Valente, L. M. M., Familiar Macedo, D., de-Oliveira-Pinto, L. M., dos Santos, F. B., Mazzei, J. L., Siani, A. C., Nunes, P. C. G., & de Azeredo, E. L. (2024). Antiviral and Virucidal Activities of Uncaria tomentosa (Cat’s Claw) against the Chikungunya Virus. Viruses, 16(3), 369. https://doi.org/10.3390/v16030369

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