Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cepharanthine shows promise against feline infectious peritonitis
By Yao, Yao et al.·Published in Virology·2025·College of Veterinary Medicine, China·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Cepharanthine: A promising natural compound against feline infectious peritonitis virus infection and associated inflammation.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A cat with feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), a serious viral disease, was studied to see if cepharanthine (CEP), a natural compound, could help. The research showed that CEP effectively reduced the virus's ability to infect cells and also lowered inflammation caused by the infection. When used together with another antiviral drug, GS-441524, the two treatments worked even better against the virus. This suggests that CEP could be a promising option for managing FIP in cats, although more research is needed to confirm its effectiveness in real-world situations.
People also search for: cat FIP treatment · cepharanthine for cats · feline infectious peritonitis antiviral options
Abstract
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), a fatal disease in cats caused by feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV), has limited treatment options and lacks effective vaccines. Cepharanthine (CEP), a natural isoquinoline alkaloid, possesses many medicinal properties, including antiviral activities. However, the role of CEP in management of FIPV infection remains poorly understood. Here, we identified that CEP had a potent ability to inhibit FIPV infection in vitro. CEP significantly inhibited FIPV infection when administered at different times, with co-treatment showing the most significant inhibitory effect. Time-of-addition assays demonstrated that CEP exerted antiviral activity during the post-entry stages of the FIPV infection. We also verified that CEP inhibited FIPV infection not through affecting type I interferon expression, and it could decrease pro-inflammatory factors expression induced by FIPV infection. The combination of CEP and GS-441524 exhibited synergistic antiviral effects against FIPV infection. Our findings highlight the therapeutic potential of CEP for treatment of FIP.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39884162/