Demonstration of the anti-viral activity of garlic extract against human cytomegalovirus in vitro.
The in vitro anti-viral activity of garlic extract (GE) on human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) was evaluated by tissue culture, plaque reduction and early antigen assay. A dose dependent inhibitory effect of GE was evident when GE was applied simultaneously with HCMV. But the effect was stronger when the monolayers were pretreated with GE. In addition, the anti-viral effect of GE persisted long in infected cells after its being removed from the culture medium. The strongest anti-viral effect of GE was demonstrated when it was applied continuously. It is therefore recommended that clinical use of GE against HCMV infection should be persistent and the prophylactic use of GE is preferable in immunocompromised patients.
Institute of Hematology, Beijing Medical University.
N L
NL
Guo
D P
DP
Lu
G L
GL
Woods
E
E
Reed
G Z
GZ
Zhou
L B
LB
Zhang
R H
RH
Waldman
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000187:drug effects*; D005737:Garlic; D006801:Humans; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts