title: Hepatoprotective effects and HSV-1 activity of the hydroethanolic extract of Cecropia glaziovii (embaúba-vermelha) against acyclovir-resistant strain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cecropia glaziovii Snethl. (Cecropiaceae), commonly known as "embaúba-vermelha", is widely distributed throughout Latin America and has been reported in Brazilian folk medicine to treat cough, asthma, high blood pressure and inflammation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Investigate the hepatoprotective properties of crude hydroethanolic extract of C. glaziovii as well as its in vitro antioxidant and antiviral (HSV-1 acyclovir resistant strain) activities.
  
  
  METHODS
  The hepatoprotective effect, the antioxidant properties and antiviral activity of crude hydroethanol extract (RCE40) from C. glaziovii leaves were evaluated by carbon-tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced hepatotoxicity, by TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive species) and MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide] assays, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The RCE40 extract (20 mg/kg) inhibited lipid peroxidation on liver in post injury treatment and decreased serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). In addition, in this protocol the RCE40 (20 mg/kg) enhanced the activity of hepatic enzymes (SOD/CAT) which are involved in combating reactive oxygen species (ROS), suggesting that it possesses the capacity to attenuate the CCl(4)-induced liver damage. Moreover the RCE40 (20 mg/kg) inhibited TBARS formation induced by several different inductors of oxidative stress showing significant antioxidant activity, including physiologically relevant concentration, as low as 2 µg/mL. Concerning antiviral activity, the RCE40 was effective against herpes simplex virus type 1 replication (29R acyclovir resistant strain) with EC(50) = 40 µg/mL and selective index (SI) = 50.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that C. glaziovii could be a good source of antioxidant and anti-HSV-1 lead compounds.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Fisiopatologia Experimental, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fabrícia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Petronilho
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dal-Pizzol
authors.forename: Geison Modesti
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Virgínia Demarchi
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Kappel
authors.forename: Simone Quintana
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: Jucélia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fortunato
authors.forename: Vanilde
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cittadini-Zanette
authors.forename: José Cláudio Fonseca
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.forename: Cláudia Maria Oliveira
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Simões
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dal-Pizzol
authors.forename: Flávio Henrique
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Reginatto
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D035702:Cecropia Plant; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014709:Vero Cells
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D000212:Acyclovir