title: Antiviral activity of the photoactive plant pigment hypericin.
abstract: The polycyclic compound hypericin, a known photodynamic agent, was investigated for antiviral activity in the presence and absence of light. The three viruses tested: murine cytomegalovirus; Sindbis virus; and human immunodeficiency virus type 1, were all susceptible to hypericin; but these antiviral activities were considerably enhanced, in a dose-dependent manner, by exposure to light.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Microbiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lopez-Bazzocchi
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Hudson
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Towers
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000873:Anthracenes; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D051379:Mice; D010569:Perylene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000873:Anthracenes; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D010569:Perylene; C004965:hypericin