Objective To study the
antiviral mechanism of Chinese traditional herb Jinyebaidu in HCMV infection. Methods In vitro HCMV
infected cell model was established by coincubating the HEL cells and HCMV AD169 with liter of 100TCID50.The culture was then without intervention (group A)and with intervention of Jinyebaidu (group B)or GCV(group C). Intracellular and supernatant HCMV genome copies were evaluated by FQ-PCR.TNF-α and IL-6 in supernatants were detected by radioimmunoassay. Viral infection was also detected by CPE assay. Results 24h after infection, intracellular HCMV DNA replication was inhibited in group B(5.35 ± 0.581gGE/106HEL) compared with group A(6.12 ± 0.65lgGE/106HEL, P <0.05),but not so significantly as that of group C(168h
postinfection; 7.05 ± 0.711gGE/106HEL,groupB:7.97±0.811gGE/106HEL, P <0.05).And virion release from infected cells was blocked 48h after infection in group B(2.78 ± 0.321gGE/106HEL, group A:3.31 ±0.381gGE/ 106/HEL, P <0.05).The viral liters of group Band group Chad no significant difference( P > 0.05) .The levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in the supernatants of group B were also elevated to 0.63 ± 0.06pg/ml, and 38.26 ± 4.19pg/ml, beginning at 12h and 24h after infection respectively. While no significant difference was showed between group A and C(group A: 0.55 ± 0.04pg/ml, 31.12 ± 4.53pg/ml,group C:0.56± 0.05pg/ml,32.40 ± 4.97pg/ml, P < 0.05) .The onset of CPE was delayed in group B and C, and showed a slower progression(96h postfecton, 168h postinfection: + + )than group A(48h postinfection, 168h postinfection: + + + + ). Conclusion Jinyebaidu shows an inhibiting effect on intracellular HCMV DNA replication and virion release from infected cells. It could also enhance the expression of TNF-αand IL-6 to regulate the function of the immune system. By these means, Chinese traditional herb Jinyebaidu has an antiviral efficacy in HCMV infection.