title: Attenuation of influenza virus infectivity with herbal-marine compound (HESA-A): an in vitro study in MDCK cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The influenza virus is still one of the most important respiratory risks affecting humans which require effective treatments. In this case, traditional medications are of interest. HESA-A is an active natural biological compound from herbal-marine origin. Previous studies have reported that the therapeutic properties of HESA-A are able to treat psoriasis vulgaris and cancers. However, no antiviral properties have been reported.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was designed to investigate the potential antiviral properties of HESA-A and its effects in modulating TNF-α and IL-6 cytokine levels. HESA-A was prepared in normal saline as a stock solution (0.8 mg/ml, pH = 7.4). Percentages of cell survival when exposed to different concentrations of HESA-A at different time intervals was determined by MTT assay. To study the potential antiviral activity of HESA-A, Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells were treated with the effective concentration (EC50) of HESA-A (0.025 mg/ml) and 100 TCID50/0.1 ml of virus sample under different types of exposure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on the MTT method and hemagglutination assay (HA), HESA-A is capable of improving cell viability to 31% and decreasing HA titre to almost 99% in co-penetration exposures. In addition, based on quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), it was found that HESA-A causes decrements in TNF-α and IL-6 cytokine expressions, which was significant for TNF-α (p ≤ 0.05) but not for IL-6.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, HESA-A was effective against influenza infection through suppressing cytokine expression.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Parvaneh
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mehrbod
authors.forename: Aini
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ideris
authors.forename: Abdul Rahman
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Omar
authors.forename: Mohd
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hair-Bejo
authors.forename: Sheau Wei
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Masoumeh Tavassoti
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Kheiri
authors.forename: Mansoureh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tabatabaian
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival; D004285:Dogs; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D009975:Orthomyxoviridae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts / Q000378:metabolism; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D019562:Viral Load; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; C502848:HESA-A preparation; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D015850:Interleukin-6; D028321:Plant Preparations; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C022616:thiazolyl blue