Phytochemicals in Apples Show Surprising Potential to Treat Monkeypox (Mpox) and Marburg Infections
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team May 11, 2025 20 hours, 6 minutes ago
Medical News: Researchers Find Natural Apple Ingredients Could Be Turned into Powerful Antivirals
In a fascinating new breakthrough, scientists from Bangladesh have uncovered that natural compounds found in apples—yes, the humble Malus domestica—may have significant potential in treating two of the world's most dangerous viral threats: Monkeypox (Mpox) and Marburg virus. The study, conducted using advanced computer-based simulations, points toward apple-derived molecules as promising future drugs that could disrupt the replication and spread of these deadly viruses.
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Phytochemicals in Apples Show Surprising Potential to Treat Monkeypox (Mpox) and Marburg Infections
The research was a joint effort by experts from Gopalganj Science and Technology University, Khulna University, Dhaka University, and the Bioinformatics and Drug Innovation Laboratory at BioLuster Research Center Ltd., all based in Bangladesh.
This
Medical News report details their efforts to screen and analyze phytochemicals from apples that could work against these viruses by targeting specific proteins vital to their replication cycles.
Monkeypox and Marburg Virus Still Pose Serious Threats
Although overshadowed by COVID-19, Monkeypox and Marburg virus remain public health emergencies. Monkeypox, which causes rashes, fever, and swollen lymph nodes, and Marburg virus, which triggers severe hemorrhagic fever with high death rates, have no widely approved treatments or vaccines. Scientists are thus racing to find new and safe therapies, and the idea of using fruit-derived compounds is both appealing and innovative.
How Apples Were Put to the Test
Using a computational method known as computer-aided drug design (CADD), the researchers screened 14 bioactive apple compounds against two viral proteins—one from the Monkeypox virus and another from the Marburg virus. They used a tool called PASS to predict the potential activity of each compound, measuring how likely it was to show antiviral effects. Compounds such as ursolic acid (UA), rutin (RTN), and isoquercetin (IQCN) showed especially strong activity scores.
Next, the team simulated how these compounds would bind to viral proteins, mimicking how actual drugs would work in the body. Compared to cidofovir (CDV), a known antiviral drug, apple compounds like procyanidin B2, chlorogenic acid (CA), and RTN showed even stronger binding capabilities. For example, RTN demonstrated a binding strength of –8.4 kcal/mol against the Marburg protein target—much better than cidofovir’s –6.0 kcal/mol.
Why Binding Matters and What That Means for Real-Life Treatment
The stronger a compound binds to a virus’s vital proteins, the better it can block the virus from functioning. Apple compounds formed multiple stable hydrogen bonds with key regions of the virus, essentially “locking up” proteins needed for the virus to reproduce. In particu
lar, compounds like chlorogenic acid and rutin made up to six hydrogen bonds with the Marburg virus protein, suggesting very stable and specific interactions.
Additionally, these compounds also had excellent pharmacokinetic profiles—meaning they were likely to be well absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and safely excreted by the human body. Some even outperformed cidofovir in safety profiles. For instance, chlorogenic acid and rutin had higher safety margins and lower toxicity risks. Ursolic acid showed strong performance but may carry some risk of liver toxicity.
What This Means for Future Medicine
The researchers emphasized that these findings are based on simulations and need laboratory and clinical testing to confirm effectiveness and safety. Still, the results are very promising. Apples are not only rich in vitamins but may also serve as sources of future antiviral drugs. Among the top-performing compounds were:
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Ursolic acid (UA) – Known for boosting immunity and now shown to strongly bind Monkeypox viral proteins.
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Rutin (RTN) – A natural antioxidant with potent binding against Marburg virus, previously studied for COVID-19.
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Chlorogenic acid (CA) – Found to have great stability and quick elimination from the body, reducing toxicity risk.
These compounds could be used to develop new medications, especially useful in low-resource regions where conventional antivirals are unavailable or unaffordable.
More Than just a Theoretical Discovery
While the study is still in its early computational phase, it marks a critical step in exploring natural alternatives to synthetic drugs. The results highlight the power of natural remedies and the potential of common fruits in combating global health threats. The next phase would involve real-world testing through lab experiments and possibly clinical trials, which the researchers urge funding bodies and pharmaceutical companies to support.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Food Chemistry Advances.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772753X25001145
For the latest on Herbs and Phytochemicals, keep on logging to Thailand
Medical News.
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/new-hope-as-study-finds-that-natural-compounds-can-inhibit-monkeypox-mpox-virus
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/silico-study-unveils-phytochemicals-that-can-target-mpox-virus-envelope-proteins
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/traditional-herbal-treatments-for-mpox-in-india
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/monkeypox
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/herbs-and-phytochemicals
https://www.thailandmedical.news/pages/thailand_doctors_listings
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