The University of Hong Kong

Feng Chen

Kwok Yung Yuen

Yi Guan

Kwok Hung Chan

Leo Lit Man Poon

Jsm Peiris

Yi Tsun Kao

The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition useful for the treatment of diseases associated with viruses of the order Nidovirales of the family Coronaviradae, such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) viruses in humans and other animals. In particular, this invention relates to a naturally occurring compound, namely, baicalin, extracted and purified from the Chinese medicinal plantGeorgi (Chinese name: Huang Qin), that exhibits potent antiviral activity against members of the order Nidovirales of the family Coronaviradae that infects humans and other animals; in particular, SARS viruses in humans ('hSARS virus'). The invention also relates to a therapeutic method, using pharmaceutical compositions comprising baicalin compounds, for the treatment, amelioration, management or prevention of diseases associated with members of the order Nidovirales of the family Coronaviradae, such as hSARS.

Baicalin as a treatment for SARS infection

A method for producing the high-value ketocarotenoid astaxanthin by the green microalgain dark-heterotrophic cultures shows excellent growth and high-yield astaxanthin production on glucose-supplemented media in the dark. The specific growth rate and astaxanthin yield can be as high as 0.031 h, and 10.3 mg l, respectively, which are the highest so far reported in heterotrophic algal cultures. The light-independent astaxanthin-producing ability ofcan be employed for commercial production of astaxanthin using industrial fermenters.

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Hong Kong, China

Feng Chen