Antiviral effects of Sarcodia suae water extracts against vesicular stomatitis virus infection

Marine algae, a rich source of bioactive substances, have long been utilized in biomedical and veterinary sciences. This study breaks new ground by assessing the antiviral therapeutic potential of water extracts from four algal species–Colaconema formosanum, Caulerpa microphysa, Gelidium amansii and Sarcodia suae–against vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) infection. The standout among these was Sarcodia suae water extract (SSWE), which not only significantly repressed VSV replication and enhanced cell survival without cytotoxic effects, but also demonstrated its antiviral activity through interference with viral attachment, entry, RNA replication, and egress, and reduced VSV-induced autophagy in Mv1Lu cells during the late stages of infection. The EC50 of SSWE was 0.422 ± 0.14 mg ml‒1. The cytotoxicity assay confirmed the high biocompatibility of SSWE. This study identifies SSWE as a promising natural antiviral agent and elucidates its mechanisms of action, highlighting the need for further research to optimize its use in controlling VSV-related diseases.