title: Epstein-Barr virus-activating principle in the ether extracts of soils collected from under plants which contain active diterpene esters.
abstract: Soil samples were collected from the ground under the plants of Euphorbiaceae and Thymelaeaceae known to possess Epstein-Barr virus-activating diterpene esters. In a test system, the ether extracts of such soil samples at a concentration of 20 micrograms/ml induced Epstein-Barr virus early antigen in approximately 5-25% of the non-producer Raji cells. These findings suggest a possible interaction between plant-derived diterpene esters and the human system, and provide a new aspect in considering the cause of Epstein-Barr virus-associated diseases, particularly nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000382:microbiology; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000378:metabolism*; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis*; D014775:Virus Activation / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D004224:Diterpenes; D012987:Soil