Key result
Artemisia herba-alba leaf extract upregulates TMPRSS2 expression ~2.4-fold in vitro without altering ACE2.
Why the study?
Artemisia species have reported antiviral activity related mainly to flavonoids, but the effects of Artemisia herba-alba on the SARS-CoV-2 entry factors ACE2 and TMPRSS2 were uncharacterized.
Does Artemisia herba-alba leaf extract modulate ACE2 and TMPRSS2 gene expression in A549 carcinoma and HDFn fibroblasts?
Does Artemisia herba-alba leaf extract modulate ACE2 and TMPRSS2 gene expression in A549 carcinoma and HDFn fibroblasts?
Artemisia herba-alba leaf extract upregulates TMPRSS2 gene expression in vitro, suggesting potential interaction with viral entry pathways.
Artemisia extract should not change clinical practice; leaves open TMPRSS2 upregulation effects on viral entry pending in vivo studies.
Several studies have reported the potential antiviral activity of Artemisia species, which is related mainly to their flavonoid constituents. Transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) are critical SARS-CoV-2 entry factors. In this study, the phytochemical composition and modulatory effects of Artemisia herba-alba leaf extract on the gene expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 were investigated. To identify the flavonoid profile, HPLC was used. Cytotoxicity was estimated in A549 carcinoma and HDFn fibroblasts using an MTT assay (IC50 = 114.8 μg/mL). The real-time PCR results revealed significant upregulation of TMPRSS2 gene expression (2.4-fold, p ≤ 0.01; p value = 0.0011), whereas ACE2 expression remained unchanged. Furthermore, a molecular docking study suggested the potential binding affinity of hesperidin and rutin for TMPRSS2 and ACE2. Therefore, both in vitro and in silico results indicated that A. herba-alba extract may interact with the viral entry pathway.
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Al-Dallee et al. (2026) studied SARS-CoV-2 entry factors (ACE2 and TMPRSS2 expression). Artemisia herba-alba leaf extract was evaluated on Gene expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 (2.4-fold upregulation, p=0.0011). Artemisia herba-alba leaf extract significantly upregulated TMPRSS2 gene expression (2.4-fold, p=0.0011) in vitro, whereas ACE2 expression remained unchanged.
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