title: Anti-hepatitis C virus effect of citrus unshiu peel and its active ingredient nobiletin.
abstract: We investigated the effects of water and ethyl acetate extracts of Citrus unshiu peel (Aurantii Nobilis pericarpium) on hepatitis C virus (HCV) absorption in MOLT-4 cells (a human lymphoblastoid leukemia cell line). By reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), we showed that both the ethyl acetate layer of Citrus unshiu peel extract and fraction 7 decreased HCV absorption in MOLT-4 cells. Furthermore, we demonstrated that 3',4',5,6,7,8-hexamethoxyflavone (nobiletin) is the active ingredient that markedly inhibited HCV infection in MOLT-4 cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Showa University, Japan.
authors.forename: Megumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Kenroh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Fumihiko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yoshizaki
authors.forename: Katsuji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oguchi
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujisawa
authors.forename: Jong-Chol
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Cyong
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002957:Citrus / Q000737:chemistry*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D047309:Flavones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D015458:Leukemia, T-Cell
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D047309:Flavones; C008661:nobiletin