OBJECTIVE To study mechanisms of the extract from
Ceratostigma willmattianum against herpes simplex virus type 1(
HSV-1) in vitro . METHODS C.
Willmattianum in various concentrations was applied to Vero cells infected by HSV-1. Fifty percent tissue culture infective dose (TCID50), cytopathic effect (CPE), plaque forming unit (PFU) were used as estimating index for antiviral activity. DNA
synthesis was determined by isopycnic separation of
cellular and viral DNA in CsCl gradients centrifugation. RT-PCR were used as estimating HSV-1 gD mRNA expression.
Protein synthesis was determined by SDS-PAGE and Western Blot. RESULTS The extract from the plant neither killed HSV-1 directly nor released it from the infected cells, it showed interfering effect on the absorption of HSV-1 to Vero cells, which was counted for the observed
inhibitory HSV-1 infectivity, and inhibiting HSV-1 gD mRNA expression. The above concentrations of C. willmattianum did not show any inhibitory effects on cellular protein synthesis, but selectively inhibited the viral protein synthesis. CONCLUSIONS C. willmattianum possesses strong anti-HSV-1 activity in vitro. The possible mechanisms include virus absorption,HSV-1 gD gene transcription, and selectively inhibitory effects on HSV-1 DNA and protein synthesis.
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