In vitro anti-Chikungunya
efficacy, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of Murraya koenigii ethanolic
extract
Soniya Kumari, Boora Sanjit, Bharti Abhishekh Kumar, Parashar Deepti and Kaushik
Samander
Res. J. Biotech.; Vol. 21(2); 209-218;
doi: https://doi.org/10.25303/212rjbt2090218; (2026)
Abstract
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.
