Abstract
BackgroundInfluenza A virus (IAV) infection is a continual threat to the health of animals and humans globally. Consumption of the conventional drugs has shown several side effects and drug resistance. This study was aimed to screen some Iranian medicinal plants extracts and their fractions against influenza A virus.MethodsGlycyrrhiza glabra (rhizome), Myrtus commonis (leaves), Melissa officinalis (leaves), Hypericum perforatum (aerial parts), Tilia platyphyllos (flower), Salix alba (bark), and Camellia sinensis (green and fermented leaves) were extracted with 80% methanol and fractionated with chloroform and methanol, respectively. The cytotoxicity of the compounds were determined by MTT colorimetric assay on MDCK cells. The effective concentrations (EC50) of the compounds were calculated from the MTT results compared to the negative control with no significant effects on cell viability. The effects of EC50 of the compounds on viral surface glycoproteins and viral titer were tested by HI and HA virological assays, respectively and compared with oseltamivir and amantadine. Preliminary phytochemical analysis were done for promising anti-IAV extracts and fractions.ResultsThe most effective samples against IAV titer (P ≤ 0.05) were crude extracts of G. glabra, M. officinalis and S. alba; methanol fractions of M. communis and M. officinalis; and chloroform fractions of M. communis and C. sinensis (fermented) mostly in co- and pre-penetration combined treatments. The potential extracts and fractions were rich in flavonoids, tannins, steroids and triterpenoids.ConclusionThe outcomes confirmed a scientific basis for anti-influenza A virus capacity of the extracts and fractions from the selected plants for the first time, and correlated their effects with their phytochemical constituents. It is worth focusing on elucidating pure compounds and identifying their mechanism(s) of action.
Highlights
Influenza A virus (IAV) infection is a continual threat to the health of animals and humans globally
In this study, the efficacy of the crude extracts, chloroform and methanol fractions of 8 selected plants with history of usages in traditinal and folklore Iranian medicine were tested against IAV
The highest 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC50) value belonged to S. alba (3647.45 ± 52.52 μg/ ml) and the lowest CC50 value (10.41 ± 0.00 μg/ml) was obtained for M. communis and H. perforatum
Summary
Influenza A virus (IAV) infection is a continual threat to the health of animals and humans globally. Consumption of the conventional drugs has shown several side effects and drug resistance. This study was aimed to screen some Iranian medicinal plants extracts and their fractions against influenza A virus. Influenza A virus (IAV) is one of the most severe respiratory diseases which leads to the high rates of morbidity and mortality [1, 2]. Treatment with conventional drugs including amantadine and oseltamivir has shown side effects on the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract. Due to the need for having other inhibitors of IAV, the scientists have focused on the screening medicinal plants and natural products and to find and introduce a lead compound or structure for the further preclinical trials [9]
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