Abstract
Natural compounds are a prominent source of novel antiviral drugs. Several reports have previously shown the antimicrobial activity of pistachio polyphenol extracts. Therefore, the aim of our research was to investigate the activity of polyphenol-rich extracts of natural shelled (NPRE) pistachios kernels (Pistacia vera L.) on herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) replication. The Vero cell line was used to assess the cytotoxicity and antiviral activity. The cell viability was calculated by detection of cellular ATP after treatment with various concentrations of NPRE. For antiviral studies, five nontoxic-concentrations (0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 mg/mL) were tested. Our study demonstrated that treatment with NPRE (0.4, 0.6, 0.8 mg/mL) reduced the expression of the viral proteins ICP8 (infected cell polypeptide 8), UL42 (unique long UL42 DNA polymerase processivity factor), and US11 (unique short US11 protein), and resulted in a decrease of viral DNA synthesis. The 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC50), 50% inhibitory concentration (EC50), and the selectivity index (SI) values for NPRE were 1.2 mg/mL, 0.4mg/mL, and 3, respectively. Furthermore, we assessed the anti-herpetic effect of a mix of pure polyphenol compounds (NS MIX) present in NPRE. In conclusion, our findings indicate that natural shelled pistachio kernels have remarkable inhibitory activity against HSV-1.
Highlights
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection is quite common in adults and neonates and is associated with oral mucocutaneous lesions and/or genital infections
Our current finding indicates that polyphenols from pistachios are effective against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)
We can assume that the antiviral effects of natural shelled shelled pistachios pistachios kernels kernels (NPRE) are the result of a balance of the individual polyphenolic components that in combination exert the anti-viral activity
Summary
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection is quite common in adults and neonates and is associated with oral mucocutaneous lesions and/or genital infections. HSV-1 is the primary cause of neonatal and sporadic encephalitis and, in absence of treatment, the mortality rate associated with central HSV infection is around 70% [1]. HSV is incurable, acyclovir (ACV) and related nucleoside analogues such as valacyclovir (VCV), famciclovir, and ganciclovir, are widely used for the prophylaxis and treatment of HSV infections [2]. These drugs are considered first-line drug treatments for HSV infections and they have a similar anti-HSV mechanism. Nucleoside analogues are monophosphorylated by the HSV-encoded thymidine kinase (TK) and subsequently converted by the host cell kinases
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