In Vitro Evaluation of the Antiviral Activity of Methylene Blue Alone or in Combination against SARS-CoV-2

A new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) causing coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID-19), which emerged in Wuhan, China in December 2019, has spread worldwide. Currently, very few treatments are officially recommended against SARS-CoV-2. Identifying effective, low-cost antiviral drugs with limited side effects that are affordable immediately is urgently needed. Methylene blue, a synthesized thiazine dye, may be a potential antiviral drug. Antiviral activity of methylene blue used alone or in combination with several antimalarial drugs or remdesivir was assessed against infected Vero E6 cells infected with two clinically isolated SARS-CoV-2 strains (IHUMI-3 and IHUMI-6). Effects both on viral entry in the cell and on post-entry were also investigated. After 48 h post-infection, the viral replication was estimated by RT-PCR. The median effective concentration (EC50) and 90% effective concentration (EC90) of methylene blue against IHUMI-3 were 0.41 +/- 0.34 mu M and 1.85 +/- 1.41 mu M, respectively; 1.06 +/- 0.46 mu M and 5.68 +/- 1.83 mu M against IHUMI-6. Methylene blue interacted at both entry and post-entry stages of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Vero E6 cells as retrieved for hydroxychloroquine. The effects of methylene blue were additive with those of quinine, mefloquine and pyronaridine. The combinations of methylene blue with chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, desethylamodiaquine, piperaquine, lumefantrine, ferroquine, dihydroartemisinin and remdesivir were antagonist. These results support the potential interest of methylene blue to treat COVID-19.

Automated summary

Efforts to identify effective and low-cost antiviral drugs against SARS-CoV-2 are urgently needed, and methylene blue, a synthesized thiazine dye, shows potential as a treatment for COVID-19. When used alone or in combination with certain antimalarial drugs or remdesivir, it demonstrates antiviral activity against the virus in Vero E6 cells.