title: Experimental study on the prevention and treatment of murine cytomegalovirus hepatitis by using allitridin.
abstract: Allitridin (diallyl trisulfide), a main effective compound of Allium sativum (garlic), was previously shown to inhibit the expression of immediate-early antigens and viral proliferation of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) in vitro. Here we have examined the prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy of allitridin in a non-lethal murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) hepatitis in methylprednisolone-immunosuppressed BALB/c mice. Allitridin was administered at 25mg/kg per day (equal to the mean human dose) and 75 mg/kg per day in two regimens: prophylaxis plus therapy beginning at 2 days before infection and lasting for 18 days, and therapy lasting for 14 days initiated at 2 days after infection. Ganciclovir (GCV)-treated, infected, and non-infected mice served as controls. MCMV DNA load in the liver, plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level and Knodell's histological activity index (HAI) score of liver section were evaluated. We found that MCMV DNA load was significantly decreased in all allitridin- and GCV-treated mice, compared with infected controls. Concomitantly, histopathological lesions in the liver and plasma ALT levels were reduced. Statistically, no significant differences were detected between the combined allitridin prophylaxis plus therapeutic and therapeutic groups regardless of dose and the GCV groups. Our results demonstrate the therapeutic efficacy of allitridin in mouse models with MCMV hepatitis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pediatric Clinical Virology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430030, Wuhan, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Feng
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Yong-Sui
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Ge
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhen
mesh_terms: D000498:Allyl Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005737:Garlic; D006524:Hepatitis, Viral, Animal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018146:Muromegalovirus; D008517:Phytotherapy; D013440:Sulfides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000498:Allyl Compounds; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D013440:Sulfides; C042577:diallyl trisulfide