Protective Role of Cepharanthine Against Equid Herpesvirus Type 8 Through AMPK and Nrf2/HO-1 Pathway Activation

This study explores the antiviral and antioxidant effects of cepharanthine against Equid Herpesvirus Type 8 (EqHV-8), a virus affecting horses and donkeys. Cepharanthine was found to inhibit EqHV-8 replication in vitro using RK-13 and NBL-6 cell lines and in vivo in a study involving 20 mice. The compound's protective mechanism involves activating the AMPK and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathways, which reduce oxidative stress and enhance cellular defense. Cepharanthine significantly reduced viral protein expression and progeny virus production, primarily by inhibiting viral binding and internalization. These findings suggest that cepharanthine could be a promising therapeutic agent for EqHV-8 infections, though further research is needed to assess its efficacy and safety in horses and donkeys.