In-vitro antiviral activity of Solanum nigrum against Hepatitis C Virus.
BACKGROUND
Hepatitis C is a major health problem causes liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and death. The current treatment of standard interferon in combination with ribavirin, has limited benefits due to emergence of resistant mutations during long-term treatment, adverse side effects and high cost. Hence, there is a need for the development of more effective, less toxic antiviral agents.


RESULTS
The present study was designed to search anti-HCV plants from different areas of Pakistan. Ten medicinal plants were collected and tested for anti-HCV activity by infecting the liver cells with HCV 3a innoculum. Methanol and chloroform extracts of Solanum nigrum (SN) seeds exhibited 37% and more than 50% inhibition of HCV respectively at non toxic concentration. Moreover, antiviral effect of SN seeds extract was also analyzed against HCV NS3 protease by transfecting HCV NS3 protease plasmid into liver cells. The results demonstrated that chloroform extract of SN decreased the expression or function of HCV NS3 protease in a dose- dependent manner and GAPDH remained constant.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that SN extract contains potential antiviral agents against HCV and combination of SN extract with interferon will be better option to treat chronic HCV.
Division of Molecular Medicine, National Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
Tariq
T
Javed
Usman Ali
UA
Ashfaq
Sana
S
Riaz
Sidra
S
Rehman
Sheikh
S
Riazuddin
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D010154:Pakistan; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D032324:Solanum nigrum / Q000737:chemistry*; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts / Q000378:metabolism; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000378:metabolism
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; C022616:thiazolyl blue
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