title: Synergistic action of quercetin and murine alpha/beta interferon in the treatment of Mengo virus infection in mice.
abstract: ABD2F1 mice were infected intraperitoneally (i.p.) or intranasally (i.n.) with Mengo or Sindbis virus and treated with either crude murine alpha/beta interferon (MuIFN-alpha/beta) or quercetin, or both. MuIFN-alpha/beta given i.p. or intramuscularly (i.m.) 1-3 h before the infection had a dose-dependent protective effect regardless of the route of administration. When given after the infection, IFN did not show any effect. Oral quercetin, capable of protecting cardio, i.e. Mengo virus-infected mice, failed to show antiviral efficacy in Sindbis virus-infected animals. Of various combinations of quercetin and MuIFN-alpha/beta, a certain well defined regimen resulted in a significant enhancement of protection in Mengo, but not Sindbis, virus-infected mice. A marginally effective treatment regimen of quercetin (20 mg/kg, given 12 h before Mengo virus infection, and 10 mg/kg given both 1 h before and 12 h after infection) potentiated the activity of a single dose of MuIFN-alpha/beta (5000 IU 3 h prior to infection), giving 85-100% survivors compared to 50% for MuIFN-alpha/beta when applied alone (p less than 0.001).
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004769:Enterovirus Infections / Q000628:therapy*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008574:Mengovirus / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D011794:Quercetin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012845:Sindbis Virus / Q000187:drug effects; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D014036:Togaviridae Infections / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids; D007370:Interferon Type I; D011794:Quercetin