title: Inhibitory effect of kaolin minerals compound against hepatitis C virus in Huh-7 cell lines.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is estimated to infect 200 million individuals in the globe, including approximately 10 million in Pakistan causing both acute and chronic hepatitis. The standard treatment against HCV is pegylated interferon therapy in combination with a nucleoside analogue ribavirin. In addition, several herbal extracts and phytochemicals derivatives are used traditionally in the treatment of liver diseases as well as HCV infection. The present study determines the inhibitory effect of kaolin minerals compound against hepatitis C virus in Huh-7 cell lines.
  
  
  METHODS
  Huh-7 cell lines were used for the in vitro HCV replication by using HCV positive sera from different patients with known HCV genotypes and viral titer/load. Total RNA was extracted from these infected cells and was quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR). The viral titer was compared with the control samples to determine the anti-HCV activity of kaolin derived compounds. Kaolin is a group of clay minerals, with the chemical composition Al2 Si2O5 (OH)4.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed promising effectiveness of local kaolin derived anti-HCV compounds by causing 28% to 77% decrease in the HCV titer, when applied to infected Huh-7 cell lines. This study provides the basis for future work on these compounds especially to determine the specific pathway and mechanism for inhibitory action in the replicon systems of viral hepatitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Kaolin mineral derivatives show promising inhibitory effects against HCV genotypes 3a and 1a infection, which suggests its possible use as complementary and alternative medicine for HCV viral infection.
authors.forename: Liaqat
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Virology, National Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, 87-West Canal bank Road, Thoker Niaz baig, Lahore 53700, Pakistan. idreeskhan96@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Idrees
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Abrar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.forename: Irshad
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ur Rehman
authors.forename: Amjad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Syed Abbas
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Iqbal
authors.forename: Eyad Hassan
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Kamel
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000821:virology; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007616:Kaolin / Q000737:chemistry*; D008903:Minerals / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D019562:Viral Load / Q000187:drug effects; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D008903:Minerals; D012367:RNA, Viral; D007616:Kaolin
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