Evaluation of the antiviral effect of Oenocarpus distichus Mart. fruit extract in IMR-32 cells infected by Alphavirus chikungunya

The Amazon region boasts abundant fauna and flora. The Arecaceae family, which includes the genus Oenocarpus and its species Oenocarpus distichus Mart., is widely distributed in the Northern region of Brazil, where it plays significant ecological, economic, and nutritional roles. Studies have indicated that this fruit, besides having a high content of lipids, carbohydrates, and fiber, is rich in bioactive compounds, including flavonoids. The primary aim of this study was to assess the effect of O. distichus fruit extract, both in vitro and in silico, against infection by Alphavirus chikungunya (CHIKV), an arbovirus present in several countries on all five continents. The methods employed included cytotoxicity assay, antiviral assay, molecular docking, and pharmacokinetic prediction. No toxic effects were observed in IMR-32 cells at any of the tested extract concentrations. Regarding the antiviral effect, a decrease in virus infection was observed mainly when IMR-32 cells were exposed to the extract before CHIKV addition. Out of 17 compounds abundantly present in the extract, rutin and quercetin revealed potential binding to NSP2, NSP3, and NSP4 proteins of CHIKV, with favorable pharmacokinetic properties. These results place O. distichus as a promising ally in the development of therapeutic interventions against CHIKV.