Edible bird's nest extract inhibits influenza virus infection.
Edible bird's nest (EBN) is the nest of the swift that is made from its saliva. Although EBN has been widely used for enhancing immunocompetence, its antiviral efficacy has not been studied in detail. We found that EBN extract could strongly inhibit infection with influenza viruses in a host range-independent manner when it was hydrolyzed with Pancreatin F. Western blotting assay showed that the EBN extract bound to influenza virus. Furthermore, EBN extract could neutralize the infection of MDCK cells with influenza viruses and inhibit hemagglutination of influenza viruses to erythrocytes, but it could not inhibit the activity of influenza virus sialidase. Fluorometric HPLC indicated that the major molecular species of sialic acid in EBN is N-acetylneuraminic acid. The results suggest that EBN is a safe and valid natural source for the prevention of influenza viruses.
Guo
Chao-Tan
CT
Department of Biochemistry, University of Shizuoka, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and COE Program in the 21st century, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8526, Japan.
Takahashi
Tadanobu
T
Bukawa
Wakoto
W
Takahashi
Noriko
N
Yagi
Hirokazu
H
Kato
Koichi
K
Hidari
Kazuya I-P Jwa
KI
Miyamoto
Daisei
D
Suzuki
Takashi
T
Suzuki
Yasuo
Y
D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds; D002460:Cell Line; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000821:virology; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D009439:Neuraminidase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
D009439:Neuraminidase; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid