In vitro anti-Chikungunya efficacy, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of Murraya koenigii ethanolic extract

Chikungunya virus is an arthropod-transmitted Alphavirus that causes severe arthralgia which may persist for weeks or years. Currently no licensed antivirals or vaccines are accessible against Chikungunya infection. The present study focused on in vitro anti-chikungunya efficacy and characterization of Murraya koenigii ethanolic extract. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography mass spectrometry determine bioactive compounds. The anti-chikungunya potential was determined and quantified via a foci forming unit assay. Additionally, the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant assays were also performed. The Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry showed the presence of surface hydroxyl groups, phenols, alcohols, alkanes, aldehydes, aromatic compounds, alkyl and aryl halides and amines. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry revealed 24 bioactive compounds. The maximum non-toxic dose of Murraya koenigii (7.8 μg/mL) was used for the antiviral assay. It lowered the virus titer from 8.10 (virus control) to 7.36 mean log10 FFU/ml with 82.25% of viral inhibition. Murraya koenigii also demonstrated remarkable DPPH scavenging (IC50 value 53.77 μg/mL) and protein denaturation (IC50 value 146.4 μg/mL) activities. The results revealed that Murraya koenigii ethanolic extract at MNTD of 7.8 μg/mL showed significant inhibition of Chikungunya virus fabrication at multiple stages of its replication cycle and may serve as a preventive or curative agent against the Chikungunya virus.