Triterpenoid Saponins Isolated from Platycodon grandiflorum Inhibit Hepatitis C Virus Replication.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major cause of liver disease, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Due to significant adverse effects and emergence of resistant strains of currently developed anti-HCV agents, plant extracts have been considered to be potential sources of new bioactive compounds against HCV. The aim of this study was to evaluate the functional effects of triterpenoid saponins contained in the root extract of Platycodon grandiflorum (PG) on viral enzyme activities and replication in both HCV replicon cells and cell culture grown HCV- (HCVcc-) infected cells. Inhibitory activities of triterpenoid saponins from PG were verified by NS5B RNA-dependent RNA polymerase assay and were further confirmed in the context of HCV replication. Six triterpenoid saponins (platycodin D, platycodin D2, platycodin D3, deapioplatycodin D, deapioplatycodin D2, and platyconic acid A), PG saponin mixture (PGSM), were identified as active components exerting anti-HCV activity. Importantly, PGSM exerted synergistic anti-HCV activity in combination with either interferon- α or NS5A inhibitors. We demonstrated that combinatorial treatment of PGSM and IFN- α efficiently suppressed colony formation with significant reduction in drug resistant variant of HCV. These data suggest that triterpenoid saponin may represent a novel anti-HCV therapeutic agent.
B&C Biopharm, Advanced Institutes of Convergence Technology, Suwon 443-270, Republic of Korea ; Division of Bioscience and Bioinformatics, Myongji University, Cheoin-gu, Yongin 449-728, Republic of Korea.
Jong-Woo
JW
Kim
B&C Biopharm, Advanced Institutes of Convergence Technology, Suwon 443-270, Republic of Korea.
Sang Jin
SJ
Park
B&C Biopharm, Advanced Institutes of Convergence Technology, Suwon 443-270, Republic of Korea.
Jong Hwan
JH
Lim
B&C Biopharm, Advanced Institutes of Convergence Technology, Suwon 443-270, Republic of Korea.
Jae Won
JW
Yang
B&C Biopharm, Advanced Institutes of Convergence Technology, Suwon 443-270, Republic of Korea.
Jung Cheul
JC
Shin
B&C Biopharm, Advanced Institutes of Convergence Technology, Suwon 443-270, Republic of Korea.
Sang Wook
SW
Lee
Division of Bioscience and Bioinformatics, Myongji University, Cheoin-gu, Yongin 449-728, Republic of Korea.
Joo Won
JW
Suh
National Research Laboratory of Hepatitis C Virus, Ilsong Institute of Life Science, Hallym University, 1605-4 Gwanyang-dong, Dongan-gu, Anyang 431-060, Republic of Korea.
Soon B
SB
Hwang