Extracts of Common Beverages Cover ACE2 and Inhibit the Binding of SARS-CoV-2.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the cellular entry point for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is abundant in the oral cavity. If common foods can cover ACE2, they can potentially prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection by consuming these foods on a daily basis. However; there is no suitable method for screening such foods. Thus, we aimed to establish an enhanced application of the well-known ACE2:SARS-CoV-2 Spike Inhibitor Screening Assay Kit (BPS Bioscience Inc., San Diego, CA, USA) using recombinant human ACE2 (rhACE2). This screening method is a three-step procedure that screens for foods that can cover rhACE2 within a short period of habitual ingestion, such as during a tea break. In this study using this method, we screened the extracts of burdock root tea, coffee, and green tea, which are familiar beverages in Japan, and found that they all had practical ACE2 covering activity. This method can be used to screen a wide range of foods and compounds for the potential to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection using ACE2 covering activity as an index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]