Abstract
Despite the availability of several anti-herpesviral agents, it should be emphasized that the need for new inhibitors is highly encouraged due to the increasing resistant viral strains as well as complications linked with periods of recurring viral replication and reactivation of latent herpes infection. Extract of Ginkgo biloba (EGb) is a common phytotherapeutics around the world with health benefits. Limited studies, however, have addressed the potential antiviral activities of EGb, including herpesviruses such as Human alphaherpesvirus 1 (HHV-1) and Human alphaherpesvirus 2 (HHV-2). We evaluated the antiviral activity of EGb and its phytochemical constituents: flavonoids and terpenes against HHV-1 and HHV-2. Pretreatment of the herpesviruses with EGb prior to infection of cells produced a remarkable anti-HHV-1 and anti-HHV-2 activity. The extract affected the viruses before adsorption to cell surface at non-cytotoxic concentrations. In this work, through a comprehensive anti-HHV-1 and anti-HHV-2 activity study, it was revealed that flavonoids, especially isorhamnetin, are responsible for the antiviral activity of EGb. Such activity was absent in quercetin and kaempferol. However, EGb showed the most potent antiviral potency compared to isorhamnetin. EGb could augment current therapies for herpes labialis and genital herpes. Moreover, the potential use of EGb in multidrug therapy with synthetic anti-herpes compounds might be considered.
Highlights
Viral infections are still a key public health problem and a significant cause of many epidemic diseases worldwide
Serial concentrations of Extract of Ginkgo biloba (EGb), G. biloba flavonoids mix, G. biloba terpene lactones mix, isorhamnetin, kaempferol or quercetin were incubated with Human alphaherpesvirus 1 (HHV-1) or Human alphaherpesvirus 2 (HHV-2) for 0,5 h (‘Short-Term’), 1 and 2 h (‘LongTerm’) at room temperature
For isorhamnetin concentration x = 25μg/ml confidence interval for mean decrease of HHV-1 titer was CI95% (−3.89; −3), certainly a population decrease is at least 1,000 times and no higher than 7,700 times compared to control
Summary
Viral infections are still a key public health problem and a significant cause of many epidemic diseases worldwide. Through the mucous membrane or damaged skin, viruses become latent and exist in the trigeminal ganglia (HHV-1) or lumbar-sacral ganglia (HHV-2) (Boldogh et al, 1996) Several factors, such as UV, stress, injury, immune impairment, or immunosenescence lead to virus reactivation in the place of the initial infection, causing pain, and skin ailments (blisters filled with serous fluid with active virions). Several antivirals are available for HHV-1 and HHV-2 infections, such as acyclovir, valacyclovir cydofovir, or penciclovir (James and Prichard, 2014). These preparations, have shortcomings such as a relatively fast emergence of resistance in the immunocompromised patients and risk of generating drug-resistant infections. We believe that the most promising are preparations of a natural origin as an alternative to commercially available synthetic preparations
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