The Brief Overview, Antivirus and Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Activity, Quantitative Methods, and Pharmacokinetics of Cepharanthine: A Potential Small-Molecule Drug Against COVID-19

The study investigated the enhancement of cepharanthine (CEP) bioavailability through pulmonary administration in rats, aiming to address its poor solubility and oral bioavailability. Pulmonary delivery improved CEP bioavailability by five times compared to oral delivery (68.07% vs. 13.15%). The study also explored CEP's therapeutic potential for pulmonary fibrosis, a condition linked to COVID-19. Using a rat lung fibrosis model, CEP demonstrated significant antifibrotic effects by reducing collagen accumulation and inflammation, as evidenced by changes in lung index, histopathology, and levels of TGF-β1, IL-6, α-SMA, and hydroxyproline. These findings suggested that pulmonary delivery of CEP could be a promising treatment for COVID-19-associated pulmonary fibrosis.