title: Supercritical fluid extraction of heather (Calluna vulgaris) and evaluation of anti-hepatitis C virus activity of the extracts.
abstract: Previous studies using lipid extracts of heather (Calluna vulgaris) leaves showed the presence of high concentrations of ursolic and oleanolic acid. These two compounds have been reported to present antiviral activity against hepatitis C virus (HCV). In this work, the supercritical fluid extraction of heather was studied with the aim of assessing a potential anti-HCV activity of the extracts owing to their triterpenic acid content. Supercritical extraction assays were carried out exploring the pressure range of 20-50 MPa, temperatures of 40-70°C and 0-15% of ethanol cosolvent. The content of oleanolic and ursolic acid in the extracts were determined, and different samples were screened for cellular cytotoxicity and virus inhibition using a HCV cell culture infection system. Antiviral activity was observed in most extracts. In general, superior anti-HCV activity was observed for higher contents of oleanolic and ursolic acids in the extracts.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias de la Alimentación CIAL (CSIC-UAM), CEI UAM-CSIC, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C/ Nicolás Cabrera 9, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Mónica Rodriguez
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: García-Risco
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias de la Alimentación CIAL (CSIC-UAM), CEI UAM-CSIC, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C/ Nicolás Cabrera 9, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vázquez
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa" (CSIC-UAM), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Campus de Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain; Institute of Experimental Virology, Twincore, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, A Joint Venture Between Medical School Hannover and Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 30625 Hannover, Germany. Electronic address: julie.sheldon@twincore.de.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sheldon
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Virology, Twincore, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, A Joint Venture Between Medical School Hannover and Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Eike
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Steinmann
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Virology, Twincore, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, A Joint Venture Between Medical School Hannover and Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Riebesehl
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias de la Alimentación CIAL (CSIC-UAM), CEI UAM-CSIC, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C/ Nicolás Cabrera 9, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fornari
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias de la Alimentación CIAL (CSIC-UAM), CEI UAM-CSIC, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C/ Nicolás Cabrera 9, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Reglero
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D029795:Calluna / Q000737:chemistry*; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D025924:Chromatography, Supercritical Fluid; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006874:Hydrostatic Pressure; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects; D009828:Oleanolic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D013696:Temperature; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000032:analysis; D000097245:Ursolic Acid
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D009828:Oleanolic Acid; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014315:Triterpenes; D000097245:Ursolic Acid
keywords: Calluna vulgaris L.; Heather; Hepatitis C virus; Oleanolic acid; Supercritical fluid extraction; Ursolic acid