title: Antiviral activity of the plant extracts from Thuja orientalis, Aster spathulifolius, and Pinus thunbergii against influenza virus A/PR/8/34.
abstract: Influenza viruses cause significant morbidity and mortality in humans through epidemics or pandemics. Currently, two classes of anti-influenza virus drugs, M2 ion-channel inhibitors (amantadin and rimantadine) and neuraminidase inhibitors (oseltamivir and zanamivir), have been used for the treatment of the influenza virus infection. Since the resistance to these drugs has been reported, the development of a new antiviral agent is necessary. In this study, we examined the antiviral efficacy of the plant extracts against the influenza A/PR/8/34 infection. In vitro, the antiviral activities of the plant extracts were investigated using the cell-based screening. Three plant extracts, Thuja orientalis, Aster spathulifolius, and Pinus thunbergii, were shown to induce a high cell viability rate after the infection with the influenza A/PR/8/34 virus. The antiviral activity of the plant extracts also increased as a function of the concentration of the extracts and these extracts significantly reduced the visible cytopathic effect caused by virus infections. Furthermore, the treatment with T. orientalis was shown to have a stronger inhibitory effect than that with A. spathulifolius or P. thunbergii. These results may suggest that T. orientalis has anti-influenza A/PR/8/34 activity.
authors: Viral Infectious Disease Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, Korea.
authors: Ji-Na
authors: JN
authors: Won
authors: Seo-Yong
authors: SY
authors: Lee
authors: Dae-sub
authors: DS
authors: Song
authors: Haryoung
authors: H
authors: Poo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019659:Asteraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival; D003588:Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral / Q000187:drug effects; D004285:Dogs; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000187:drug effects*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D028223:Pinus / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D029783:Thuja / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts