Antiviral Effects of Novel Herbal Medicine KIOM-C, on Diverse Viruses.

Melbourne R Talactac,Won-Kyung Cho,Jong-Soo Lee,Tae-Hwan Kim,Min-Eun Park,Chul-Joong Kim,Prasanna Weeratunga,Mohammed Y E Chowdhury,Jin Yeul Ma

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0125357

Abstract

In order to identify new potential antiviral agents, recent studies have advocated thorough testing of herbal medicines or natural substances that are traditionally used to prevent viral infections. Antiviral activities and the mechanism of action of the total aqueous extract preparation of KIOM-C, a novel herbal medicine, against diverse types of viruses were investigated. In vitro antiviral activity against A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1) (PR8), vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), and Newcastle disease virus (NDV) through the induction of type-I interferon related protein phosphorylation and up-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines in murine macrophage cells (RAW264.7) were determined. In vivo, KIOM-C-treated BALB/c mice showed higher survivability and lower lung viral titers when challenged with A/Aquatic bird/Korea/W81/2005 (H5N2), A/PR/8/34(H1N1), A/Aquatic bird/Korea/W44/2005(H7N3) or A/Chicken/Korea/116 /2004(H9N2) influenza subtypes in contrast with the non-treated group. The present study revealed that total aqueous extract preparation of KIOM-C stimulates an antiviral state in murine macrophage cells and in mice leading to inhibition of viral infection and protection against lethal challenges.

Highlights

IntroductionSeveral viral pathogens cause malignant disease in humans (pandemic influenza virus) and animals (Newcastle disease virus) and animals worldwide, resulting in significant mortality and economic losses
Several viral pathogens cause malignant disease in humans and animals (Newcastle disease virus) and animals worldwide, resulting in significant mortality and economic losses
The results show that TNF-α, IL-6, IL-12 and IFN-β can be induced by KIOM-C, which may mediate the antiviral state in murine macrophage cells

Summary

Introduction

Several viral pathogens cause malignant disease in humans (pandemic influenza virus) and animals (Newcastle disease virus) and animals worldwide, resulting in significant mortality and economic losses. The lack of availability and high cost of effective drugs and vaccines necessitates further research on alternative approaches. Antiviral Effects of KIOM-C about the side effects of conventional medicine, the use of standardized herbal preparations as an alternative to conventional treatment for the prevention and treatment of various diseases has been on the rise [1]. The discoveries of effective Western medicines, such as aspirin, which can be obtained from white Willow bark, or quinine, an antimalarial drug derived from the bark of Cinchona officinalis, have increased the interest for more elaborate research on herbal medicines and paved the way toward the acceptance of the efficacy of using standardized herbal preparations [5, 6]

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Results

Conclusion