title: Antiviral activity of south Brazilian medicinal plant extracts.
abstract: Brazilian plants are potential sources of useful edible and medicinal plants. Hydromethanolic extracts prepared from 54 medicinal plants used in folk medicine to treat infections were screened for antiviral properties against five different viruses (HSV-1, HSV-2, poliovirus type 2, adenovirus type 2 and VSV). Fifty-two percent of the plant extracts exhibited antiviral against one or more tested viruses. More specifically, 42.6% showed activity against HSV-1 (herpes simplex virus type 1), 42.6% against HSV-2 (herpes simplex virus type 2), 26% against poliovirus and 24% against VSV (vesicular stomatitis virus). None of the extracts was active against adenovirus. Trixis praestans (Vell.) Cabr. and Cunila spicata Benth. extracts were further characterized for antiviral activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Simões
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Falkenberg
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Mentz
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Schenkel
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amoros
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Girre
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001938:Brazil; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014709:Vero Cells; D014780:Viruses / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts