title: Anti-viral activity of water extract of Paeonia lactiflora pallas against human respiratory syncytial virus in human respiratory tract cell lines.
abstract: Paeonia lactiflora Pallas (P. lactiflora, Ranunculaceae) is a common ingredient of Sheng-Ma-Ge-Gen-Tang (SMGGT; Shoma-kakkon-to) and Ge-Gen-Tang (GGT; kakkon-to). SMGGT and GGT are different prescriptions of traditional Chinese medicine with different ingredients designed for airway symptoms. Both SMGGT and GGT have anti-viral activity against human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV). Therefore, P. lactiflora was hypothesized to be the effective ingredient of both SMGGT and GGT against HRSV. However, P. lactiflora does not have any proven antiviral activity. This study used both human upper (Human larynx epidermoid carcinoma cell line, HEp-2) and lower (human lung carcinoma cell line, A549) respiratory tract cells to test the hypothesis that a hot water extract of P. lactiflora could effectively inhibit plaque formation induced by HRSV infection. The ability of P. lactiflora to stimulate anti-viral cytokines was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results showed that P. lactiflora was time-dependently and dose-dependently effective against HRSV in HEp-2 and A549 cells, particularly supplemented before viral inoculation (p < 0.0001). 10 μg/ml P. lactiflora had a comparable anti-HRSV activity with 10 μg/ml ribavirin, a broad-spectrum antiviral agent. P. lactiflora was dose-dependently effective against viral attachment (p < 0.0001), with a better effect on A549 cells (p < 0.0001). P. lactiflora was time-dependently (p < 0.0001) and dose-dependently (p < 0.0001) effective against viral penetration. Moreover, P. lactiflora stimulated IFN-β secretion without any effect on TNF-α secretion. Therefore, P. lactiflora could be beneficial at preventing HRSV infection by inhibiting viral attachment, internalization, and stimulating IFN secretion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tzeng-Jih
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Kuo-Chih
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chun-Ching
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Lien-Chai
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: Jung-San
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000378:metabolism; D029596:Paeonia; D008517:Phytotherapy; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D018113:Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000821:virology; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D053585:Virus Attachment / Q000187:drug effects; D053586:Virus Internalization / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C090831:kakkon-to; C560813:sheng-ma-ge-gen-tang; D012254:Ribavirin; D016899:Interferon-beta