Scientists Discover Potent Natural Molecules Against Ebola and COVID-19, Highlighting Pandemic Preparedness
Researchers at the Université de Montréal's affiliated Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM) have identified a new family of natural molecules with significant antiviral activity against the Ebola virus and SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. This discovery, led by Michel Chrétien and Majambu Mbikay, is detailed in a study published in the Journal of Natural Products. The research team, including experts from the University of Illinois Chicago and Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory, used advanced analytical methods to identify two previously unknown triterpenoid compounds, named dicitriosides, which are up to 25 times more active than the original plant extract. This finding underscores the potential of natural products in developing broad-spectrum antivirals.