Antiviral activity of aspirin against RNA viruses of the respiratory tract—an in vitro study

Abstract

AimAspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) has been used for more than 115 years in medicine. Research exists to show that aspirin has antiviral effects in vitro, for example, by blocking influenza virus propagation via NF‐κB inhibition when used at high concentrations and short‐term incubation steps. The aim of this study was to confirm the antiviral activity of aspirin against influenza virus and further elucidate the activity of aspirin against other respiratory viruses.MethodsTests to detect antiviral activity were performed using plaque‐reduction assays. Aspirin was administered to the virus‐infected cell cultures one hour after infection. Prior to these assays, the non‐cytotoxic concentrations of aspirin on cells used for propagation of the respective viruses were determined.ResultsAspirin was found to be highly effective against influenza A H1N1 virus. The antiviral activity against further respiratory RNA viruses was less distinct. Respiratory syncytial virus was minimally inhibited. However, the activity of aspirin against rhinoviruses was more pronounced. Aspirin demonstrated antiviral activity against all human rhinoviruses (HRV), but the effect on members of the “major group” viruses, namely HRV14 and HRV39, was greater than on those of the “minor group,” HRV1A and HRV2.ConclusionsThese data demonstrate a specific antiviral activity of aspirin against influenza A virus and HRV. The mode of action against rhinoviruses is still unknown and requires further investigation, as does the possibility of aspirin being effective in vivo to treat the common cold.

Is Acetylsalicylic Acid a Safe and Potentially Useful Choice for Adult Patients with COVID-19 ?

“…Another study showed that ASA could reduce the pathogenic effects of HCV through the down-regulation of cellular oxidative stress and the enhancement of the expression and activity of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) in infected cells [ 103 ]. Additionally, ASA showed a significant and dose-dependent antiviral activity against several other RNA viruses, including influenza A H1N1 virus, human rhinoviruses, and coxsackie virus subtype A9, this effect was observed with non-cytotoxic doses of ASA [ 19 ]. It is noteworthy that the beneficial effects of ASA against influenza virus infection have been in part attributed to ASA-mediated inhibition of PGE2 activity in macrophages and subsequent upregulation of interferon type I (IFN-1) production, leading to restricted viral replication and promoting T-cell-mediated immune response [ 104 ].…”

“…Additional mechanisms of ASA-induced effects include, among the others, modulation of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF‐κB) pathway, down-regulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), oxidative phosphorylation uncoupling, and increased permeability in mitochondria [ 17 ]. Along with its well-established role in reducing inflammation [ 16 ] and platelet aggregation [ 18 ], antiviral effects have also been proposed for ASA both against DNA and RNA viruses [ 19 ]. Among the latter effects, d , l -lysine acetylsalicylate (i.e., a lysine-salt formulation of ASA) reduced RNA synthesis and replication of the human CoV-229E and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)-CoV titer in cultured infected cells [ 20 ].…”

D, L-lysine acetylsalicylate + glycine Impairs Coronavirus Replication

“…Besides the wide usage of ASA in pain therapy, it was shown that ASA-mediated inhibition of the NF-κB-dependent induction of TRAIL and Fas/FasL, reduces influenza virus propagation [36][37][38]. ASA also displays anti-viral activity against cytomegalovirus [39] and human rhinoviruses [40].…”

UTILIZATION OF PLANT EXTRACTS TO SUPPRESS Squash Mosaic Virus INFECTION ON RIDGED GOURD (Luffa acutangula [L.Roxb])

“…Previously, SA dissolved in distilled water reported able to suppress zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV), cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), and tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) infection (Naylor et al, 1998;Radwan et al, 2007). SA dissolved in 70% ethanol showed a highly effective antiviral against the influenza virus (Glatthaar-Saalmüller et al, 2017). It is indicating that SA performance depends on the solvent type.…”