title: Xanthohumol enhances antiviral effect of interferon alpha-2b against bovine viral diarrhea virus, a surrogate of hepatitis C virus.
abstract: Xanthohumol (XN) is a natural compound with multifunctional potentials, including antiviral activity. In this study, the antiviral activity of addition of XN to interferon (IFN)-alpha was examined and compared with each compound alone using bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), a surrogate model of hepatitis C virus (HCV). BVDV E2 protein and the viral RNA level were determined by immunofluorescence and quantitative real-time RT-PCR, respectively. The addition of XN to IFN-alpha significantly improved CPEs induced by the virus and inhibited BVDV E2 protein and viral RNA levels. The interaction between XN and IFN-alpha was significant (P<0.001). XN at 3.13 microg/ml in combination with IFN-alpha at 50 IU/ml showed greater inhibitory effect on the viral RNA level than each compound used alone at 6.25 microg/ml and 100 IU/ml, respectively, indicating synergistic effect on BVDV replication in this combination. The inhibitory activity in all the tested combinations of XN and IFN-alpha was stronger than that of each compound used alone at the corresponding concentration. These results suggest that XN in combination with IFN-alpha exhibited a greater in vitro antiviral effect compared with each compound used alone. Further studies are deserved to investigate the anti-HCV activity of XN and the potential of XN in formulating novel anti-HCV regimen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ni
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhengwen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Qunying
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Jinghong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lv
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002417:Cattle; D002460:Cell Line; D003588:Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral / Q000187:drug effects; D001908:Diarrhea Viruses, Bovine Viral / Q000187:drug effects*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D018178:Flaviviridae Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016174:Hepacivirus; D027582:Humulus / Q000737:chemistry*; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011427:Propiophenones / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013737:Testis; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D005419:Flavonoids; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011427:Propiophenones; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C076551:gp53, bovine viral diarrhea virus; C104536:xanthohumol