title: Plant extracts from Cameroonian medicinal plants strongly inhibit hepatitis C virus infection in vitro.
abstract: According to some recent studies, Cameroon is one of the sub-Saharan African countries most affected by hepatitis C, with low access to the standard therapy based on the combination of pegylated interferon and ribavirin. A first ethnobotanical survey, conducted in the Western region of Cameroon, reported the use of several medicinal plants in traditional medicine for the healing of liver-related disorders. Crude organic extracts of five plants surveyed were prepared and their effect against hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection investigated. The HCV JFH1 strain cell culture system HCVcc was used. The antiviral activity was quantified by immunofluorescent labeling of HCV E1 envelope protein at 30 h post-infection in the presence of the plant extracts. Active compounds were then tested in time course infection experiments. Dose-response and cellular toxicity assays were also determined. Three extracts, methanol extracts from roots of Trichilia dregeana, stems of Detarium microcarpum and leaves of Phragmanthera capitata, showed anti-HCV activity, with half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 16.16, 1.42, and 13.17 μg/mL, respectively. Huh-7 cells were incubated with the extracts for 72 h and it appears that T. dregeana extract is not toxic up to 200 μg/mL, D. microcarpum up to 100 μg/mL and P. capitata up to 800 μg/mL. All the three extracts showed a strong inhibition of HCV entry and no effect on replication or secretion. Taken together, these results showed that extracts from Cameroonian medicinal plants are promising sources of anti-HCV agents.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I Yaoundé, Cameroon ; Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Ngaoundéré Ngaoundéré, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Borris R T
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Galani
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Cellular Virology, Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Inserm U1019 - CNRS UMR 8204, Institut de Biologie de Lille, Pasteur Institute of Lille, University of Lille Lille, France.
authors.forename: Marie-Emmanuelle
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Sahuc
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Frederic N
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Njayou
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Cellular Virology, Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Inserm U1019 - CNRS UMR 8204, Institut de Biologie de Lille, Pasteur Institute of Lille, University of Lille Lille, France.
authors.forename: Gaspard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Deloison
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and Phytochemistry, Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mkounga
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and Phytochemistry, Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: William F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Feudjou
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Cellular Virology, Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Inserm U1019 - CNRS UMR 8204, Institut de Biologie de Lille, Pasteur Institute of Lille, University of Lille Lille, France.
authors.forename: Priscille
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brodin
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Cellular Virology, Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Inserm U1019 - CNRS UMR 8204, Institut de Biologie de Lille, Pasteur Institute of Lille, University of Lille Lille, France.
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Rouillé
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and Phytochemistry, Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Augustin E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Nkengfack
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Paul Fewou
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Moundipa
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Cellular Virology, Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Inserm U1019 - CNRS UMR 8204, Institut de Biologie de Lille, Pasteur Institute of Lille, University of Lille Lille, France.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Séron
keywords: entry inhibitor; hepatitis C; natural compounds; plant extract; traditional medicine