CYSTUS052, a polyphenol-rich plant extract, exerts anti-influenza virus activity in mice.
Influenza, a respiratory disease caused by influenza viruses, is still a worldwide threat with a high potential to cause a pandemic. Beside vaccination, only two classes of drugs are available for antiviral treatment against the pathogen. Here we show that CYSTUS052, a plant extract from a special variety of Cistus incanus that is rich in polymeric polyphenols, exhibits antiviral activity against a highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus (H7N7) in cell culture and in a mouse infection model. In vitro and in vivo treatment was performed with an aerosol formulation, because the bioavailability of high molecular weight polyphenols is poor. In MDCK cells, a 90% reduction of plaque numbers on cells pre-incubated with the plant extract was achieved. For in vivo experiments we used a novel monitoring system for influenza A virus-infected mice that allows measurement of body temperature and gross motor-activity of the animals. Mice treated with CYSTUS052 did not develop disease, showed neither differences in their body temperature nor differences in their gross motor-activity and exhibited no histological alterations of the bronchiolus epithelial cells.
Droebner
Karoline
K
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Immunology, Paul-Ehrlich Str. 28, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany.
Ehrhardt
Christina
C
Poetter
Anne
A
Ludwig
Stephan
S
Planz
Oliver
O
D000336:Aerosols; D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D001980:Bronchi / Q000473:pathology; D002957:Citrus; D004285:Dogs; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000473:pathology; D005419:Flavonoids; D053126:Influenza A Virus, H7N7 Subtype / Q000254:growth & development; D001239:Inhalation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009068:Movement; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010636:Phenols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D059808:Polyphenols; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay
D000336:Aerosols; D000998:Antiviral Agents; C525099:CYSTUS052; D005419:Flavonoids; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts; D059808:Polyphenols