title: Inhibitory effects of sudanese medicinal plant extracts on hepatitis C virus (HCV) protease.
abstract: One hundred fifty-two methanol and water extracts of different parts of 71 plants commonly used in Sudanese traditional medicine were screened for their inhibitory effects on hepatitis C virus (HCV) protease (PR) using in vitro assay methods. Thirty-four extracts showed significant inhibitory activity (>/=60% inhibition at 100 microg/mL). Of these, eight extracts, methanol extracts of Acacia nilotica, Boswellia carterii, Embelia schimperi, Quercus infectoria, Trachyspermum ammi and water extracts of Piper cubeba, Q. infectoria and Syzygium aromaticum, were the most active (>/=90% inhibition at 100 microg/mL). From the E. schimperi extract, two benzoquinones, embelin (I) and 5-O-methylembelin (II), were isolated and found as potent HCV-PR inhibitors with IC(50) values of 21 and 46 microM, respectively. Inhibitory activities of derivatives of I against HCV-PR as well as their effects on other serine proteases were also investigated.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Natural Medicine, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama 930-0194, Japan.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hussein
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miyashiro
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hattori
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kakiuchi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimotohno
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000187:drug effects*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013397:Sudan
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D010450:Endopeptidases