title: In vitro screening for antiviral activity of Turkish plants revealing methanolic extract of Rindera lanata var. lanata active against human rotavirus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human rotavirus (HRoV) is the leading cause of severe gastroenteritis in infants and children under the age of five years. No specific antiviral drug is available for HRoV infections and the treatment of viral diarrhea is mainly based on rehydration and zinc treatment. In this study, we explored medicinal plants endemic to Turkey flora as a source of anti-HRoV compunds.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed an antiviral screening on Ballota macrodonta, Salvia cryptantha and Rindera lanata extracts by focus reduction assay. The extract with the highest selectivity index (SI) was selected; its antiviral activity was further confirmed against other HRoV strains and by virus yield reduction assay. The step of viral replicative cycle putatively inhibited was investigated by in vitro assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The methanolic extract of R. lanata (Boraginaceae) showed the most favourable selectivity index. This extract exhibited a dose-dependent inhibitory activity against three different HRoV strains (EC50values ranging from 5.8 μg/ml to 25.5 μg/ml), but was inactive or barely active against other RNA viruses, namely human rhinovirus and respiratory syncytial virus. The R. lanata extract targets the early steps of HRoV infection, likely by hampering virus penetration into the cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results make the R. lanata methanolic extract a promising starting material for a bioguided-fractionation aimed at identifying anti-HRoV compounds. Further work is required to isolate the active principle and assess its clinical potential.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, S. Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Regione Gonzole, 10, 10043, Orbassano, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Civra
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, S. Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Regione Gonzole, 10, 10043, Orbassano, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Rachele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Francese
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, S. Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Regione Gonzole, 10, 10043, Orbassano, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sinato
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, S. Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Regione Gonzole, 10, 10043, Orbassano, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Donalisio
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, S. Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Regione Gonzole, 10, 10043, Orbassano, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cagno
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienza e Tecnologia del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Torino, 10125, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rubiolo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Science Faculty, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ramazan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ceylan
authors.affiliation: Deparment of Medicinal Laboratory, Vocational School of Health Services, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uysal
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Science Faculty, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gokhan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zengin
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, S. Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Regione Gonzole, 10, 10043, Orbassano, Torino, Italy. david.lembo@unito.it.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lembo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D028082:Boraginaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D002460:Cell Line; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000187:drug effects*; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts