Abstract
BackgroundAdenovirus causes a number of diseases in human, and can cause serious infection in severely immunosuppressed individuals. Despite the seriousness of adenovirus infection, there is no definitely approved anti-adenoviral therapy. Many studies have shown that compounds derived from medicinal plants have antiviral activity. Therefore, this study evaluated in vitro anti-adenoviral activity of ethanol extract, fractions, and main phenolic compounds of pomegranate peel.MethodsThe ethanol extract of pomegranate peel was prepared with maceration method and fractionated by consecutive liquid/liquid partition. The cytotoxic and anti-adenovirus activities of the extract, fractions, and main phenolic compounds (ellagic acid, punicalagin and gallic acid) were evaluated on Hep-2 cell line using MTT assay. Inhibitory effect on adsorption and post-adsorption phases of the virus replication cycle was also evaluated.ResultsPomegranate peel extract had a desirable effect against adenovirus with IC50 of 5.77 µg/mL and selectivity index of 49.9. Among the fractions and compounds, the n-butanol fraction and gallic acid had the highest anti-adenoviral activity with IC50 of 2.16 µg/mL and 4.67 µM and selectivity indices of 122.5 and 10.5, respectively. The crude extract, n-butanol fraction and gallic acid inhibited the virus replication in post-adsorption phase (p < 0.01).ConclusionPomegranate peel extract, especially its n-butanol fraction, could serve as a new promising anti-adenovirus agent due to high inhibitory effect against adenovirus replication. The effect of the n-butanol fraction may be related to the synergistic effect or other compounds of this fraction. Further understanding of the bioassay guided isolation of natural compounds of this fraction seems essential.
Highlights
Adenoviruses (ADVs) are non-enveloped doublestranded DNA viruses that are of over 70 types
Ellagic acid exhibited the highest cytotoxicity on the Hep-2 cells with a CC50 of 7.05 mm/mL (Table 1)
The analysis demonstrated that the extract concentration was significantly associated with the cell death (p < 0.05, Figure 2)
Summary
Adenoviruses (ADVs) are non-enveloped doublestranded DNA viruses that are of over 70 types (genotypes). Human ADVs are not highly pathogenic, and are mostly associated with self-contained respiratory infections, hemorrhagic cystitis, and gastroenteritis, in infants and young children.[1] In addition, ocular human ADV infections are among the leading causes of viral conjunctivitis. This study evaluated in vitro anti-adenoviral activity of ethanol extract, fractions, and main phenolic compounds of pomegranate peel. The cytotoxic and anti-adenovirus activities of the extract, fractions, and main phenolic compounds (ellagic acid, punicalagin and gallic acid) were evaluated on Hep-2 cell line using MTT assay. Among the fractions and compounds, the n-butanol fraction and gallic acid had the highest anti-adenoviral activity with IC50 of 2.16 mg/mL and 4.67 mM and selectivity indices of 122.5 and 10.5, respectively. Conclusion: Pomegranate peel extract, especially its n-butanol fraction, could serve as a new promising anti-adenovirus agent due to high inhibitory effect against adenovirus replication. Further understanding of the bioassay guided isolation of natural compounds of this fraction seems essential
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