title: Activity of Porphyridium sp. polysaccharide against herpes simplex viruses in vitro and in vivo.
abstract: The cell wall sulfated polysaccharide of the red microalga Porphyridium sp. exhibited impressive antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and -2) both in vitro (cell culture) and in vivo (rats and rabbits). Depending on the concentration, this polysaccharide completely inhibited or slowed down the development of the cytopathic effect in HSV-infected cells, but did not show any cytotoxic effects on vero cells even when a concentration as high as 250 microg/ml was used. There was indirect evidence for a strong interaction between the polysaccharide and HSV and a weak interaction with the cell surface. When tested in vivo, Porphyridium sp. polysaccharide conferred significant and efficient protection against HSV-1 infection: at a concentration as low as 100 microg/ml, it prevented the appearance and development of symptoms of HSV-1 infection in rats and rabbits. The polysaccharide did not exhibit any cytotoxic effects at a concentration of 2 mg/ml in vivo.
authors.affiliation: The Institute for Applied Biosciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Beersheva 84105, Israel. mahmoudh@bgumail.bgu.ac.il
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huheihel
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ishanu
authors.forename: Jacov
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tal
authors.forename: Shoshana Malis
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Arad
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D003588:Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral / Q000187:drug effects; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000188:drug therapy; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D016849:Keratitis, Herpetic / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D000461:Rhodophyta / Q000737:chemistry*; D014709:Vero Cells
chemical_list: D011134:Polysaccharides