The in vitro anti-herpes simplex virus type-1 and type-2 activity of Long Dan Xie Gan Tan, a prescription of traditional Chinese medicine.
BACKGROUND
Long Dan Xie Gan Tan (LDXGT), a decoction of radix gentianae for purging the pathogenic inflammation of the liver, is a widely used prescription among many in traditional Chinese medicine. The prescription is primarily used to treat the disorders induced by damp-heat in the liver and the gall bladder.


METHODS
In this study, the in vitro anti-herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) and type-2 (HSV-2) activity of the water extract of LDXGT was investigated.


RESULTS
LDXGT water extract was shown to exhibit anti-HSV activity. The IC(50) values of LDXGT against HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections were 257.5 +/- 12.2 and 494.6 +/- 1.8 microg/ml, respectively. It had a CC(50) value of 4,077.2 +/- 2.4 microg/ml towards Vero cells and showed no cytotoxic effect at a concentration of 2,000 microg/ml or below. The prescription was also found to inactivate HSV-2 infectivity in a dose-, time- and temperature-dependent manner.


CONCLUSIONS
In summary, the water extract of LDXGT was concluded to inhibit HSV-1 and HSV-2 infection at different magnitudes of potency, and our observations also suggested that the effect was likely mediated by directly inactivating the virus infectivity.
Cheng
Hua-Yew
HY
Department of Cosmetic Applications and Management, Tung Fang Institute of Technology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Huang
Hsin-Hsin
HH
Yang
Chien-Min
CM
Lin
Liang-Tzung
LT
Lin
Chun-Ching
CC
D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000379:methods*; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D014709:Vero Cells
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal