Inhibiting mechanism of Alpiniae oxyphyllae fructus polysaccharide 3 against the replication of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) causes diarrhea, vomiting, and death in piglets. Our previous study has revealed the anti-PEDV activity of Alpiniae oxyphyllae fructus polysaccharide 3 (AOFP3). However, it is still unknown whether AOFP3 can inhibit the replication of PEDV. Therefore, the effect of AOFP3 on PEDV replication was investigated in the present study, along with analysis of viral RdRp activity and expression of hnRNP A1 by RNA polymerase activity assay in vitro, RIP assay, and Western blotting. The results showed that both the PEDV gene and protein levels in IPEC-J2 cells decreased with AOFP3 treatment. In addition, AOFP3 significantly reduced PEDV's replication by down-regulating the activity of PEDV RdRp and reducing the expression of hnRNP A1, whereas only the bind of RdRp to PEDV 3′UTR was inhibited in AOFP3 treated cells. •AOFP3 inhibits PEDV replication in IPEC-J2 cells.•AOFP3 reduces the activity of PEDV RdRp.•AOFP3 reduces the expression of hnRNP A1 in IPEC-J2 cells.•AOFP3 inhibits PEDV RdRp binding to PEDV 3′UTR.