title: Anti-human cytomegalovirus activity of constituents from Sasa albo-marginata (Kumazasa in Japan).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Effective new anti-human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) agents and regimens need to be developed. We examined the anti-HCMV properties of crude extract (True World Extract of Bambuseae sasa [TWEBS]) and five compounds (p-coumaric acid, 3-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde [vanillin], p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, 3-hydroxypyridine and 4',5,7-trihydroxy-3',5'-dimethoxyflavone [tricin]), isolated from Sasa albo-marginata, a bamboo known in Japan as Sasa.
  
  
  METHODS
  Among TWEBS and five compounds screened in a plaque reduction assay, four showed anti-HCMV activity in the MRC-5 human embryonic fibroblast cell line. The anti-HCMV mechanisms of the TWEBS was examined by western blot analysis using primary antibody specific for an immediate early (IE) antigen of HCMV, for a structural late antigen of HCMV and for beta-actin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment of cells with > or = 0.001% of TWEBS inhibited the observable cytopathic effects of HCMV on infected cells. Western blot analysis demonstrated that TWEBS decreased the expression of IE antigen and late antigen of HCMV in the infected cells. Next, we examined the anti-HCMV properties of five compounds isolated from TWEBS. In a viral plaque reduction assay, tricin showed dose-dependent inhibitory properties with a 50% effective concentration of 0.17 microg/ml (selective index = 1,205.8).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The hot water extract (TWEBS) of Sasa albo-marginata, with tricin isolated from it, has anti-HCMV activity in MRC-5 cells. TWEBS and/or tricin are a novel compound with potential anti-HCMV activity. Future studies should evaluate these findings in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokuriku University, Kanazawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Asumi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: Kunitomo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Mamoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koketsu
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Akuzawa
authors.forename: Rie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Zhuan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hidetaka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sadanari
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsubara
authors.forename: Tsugiya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Muroyama
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D031787:Sasa / Q000737:chemistry; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts