The in vitro antiviral activity of an aliphatic nitro compound from Heteropteris aphrodisiaca

• Published in: Microbiological research Vol. 163; no. 2; pp. 136 - 139
• Main Authors: Melo, Fernando L., Benati, Fabricio J., Junior, Walter Antonio Roman, de Mello, João Carlos Palazzo, Nozawa, Carlos, Linhares, Rosa Elisa Carvalho
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Elsevier GmbH 01.01.2008
• Subjects: Aliphatic nitro compound; Animals; Antiviral activity; Antiviral Agents - pharmacology; Bovine herpesvirus; Brazil; Cattle; Cell Line, Tumor; Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral - drug effects; Herpesvirus; Herpesvirus 1, Bovine - drug effects; Heteropteris; Heteropteris aphrodisiaca; Humans; Inhibitory Concentration 50; Malpighiaceae; Nitro Compounds - pharmacology; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Roots - chemistry; Plants, Medicinal - chemistry; Poliovirus; Poliovirus - drug effects; Viral Plaque Assay; Brazil; Bovine herpesvirus; Heteropteris aphrodisiaca; Poliovirus; Aliphatic nitro compound; Antiviral activity
• ISSN: 0944-5013; 1618-0623
• DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2006.03.011

We investigated the antiviral activity of an aliphatic nitro compound (NC) isolated from Heteropteris aphrodisiaca O. Mach. (Malpighiaceae), a Brazilian medicinal plant. The NC was tested for its antiviral activity against poliovirus type 1 (PV-1) and bovine herpes virus type 1 (BHV-1) by plaque reduction assay in cell culture. The NC showed a moderate antiviral activity against PV-1 and BHV-1 in HEp-2 cells, and the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) were 22.01 μg/ml (selectivity index (SI)=2.83) and 21.10 μg/ml (SI=2.95), respectively. At the highest concentration of the drug (40 μg/ml) a reduction of approximately 80% in plaque assay was observed for both viruses. The treatment of cells or virus prior to infection did not inhibit the replication of virus strains.