Abstract
We previously reported that extracts from plants of the Ericaceae genus Vaccinium, commonly known as the kind of blueberry, inhibited the early steps of influenza virus (IFV) infection to host cells, and that the activity was correlated with the total polyphenol content. Particularly potent inhibitory activity was observed for Vaccinium oldhamii. In this study, we identified the active components in Vaccinium oldhamii involved in the inhibition of IFV infection. We sequentially fractionated the Vaccinium oldhamii extract using a synthetic adsorbent resin column. High inhibitory activity was observed for the fractions eluted with 30%, 40%, and 50% ethanol, and three peaks (peak A, B, and C) considered to represent polyphenols were identified in the fractions by HPLC analysis. Among these peaks, high inhibitory activity was detected for peak A and B, but not for peak C. These peaks were analyzed by LC/MS, which revealed that peak A contained procyanidin B2 and ferulic acid derivatives, whereas peak B contained two ferulic acid O-hexosides, and peak C contained quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside and quercetin-O-pentoside-O-rhamnoside. It is already known that these polyphenols have anti-IFV activity, but we speculate that ferulic acid derivatives are the major contributors to the inhibition of the early steps of IFV replication, such as either adsorption or entry, observed for Vaccinium oldhamii.
Highlights
The blueberry is popular around the world as a functional fruit
It is already known that these polyphenols have anti-influenza virus (IFV) activity, but we speculate that ferulic acid derivatives are the major contributors to the inhibition of the early steps of IFV replication, such as either adsorption or entry, observed for Vaccinium oldhamii
Berry fruits such as blackcurrant [8,9,10], aronia [20], elderberry [21], and cranberry [22] have been reported to have anti-IFV activity, and the polyphenols contained in these fruits are believed to contribute to these antiviral activities
Summary
The blueberry is popular around the world as a functional fruit. Little is known about the antiviral activities of blueberries. We previously reported the antimicrobial effects of blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum). The blackcurrant extract demonstrated antiviral activities against herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 [7], respiratory syncytial virus [8], and influenza virus (IFV) types A and B [9,10], as well as antibacterial activities against Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae type b [8]. In order to clarify the anti-IFV effect of blueberries, we examined the inhibitory activity against IFV infection of 36 kinds of fruit
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