An evaluation of the inhibitory effects against rotavirus infection of edible plant extracts

• Main Authors: Knipping Karen, Garssen Johan, van’t Land Belinda
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2012-07-01
• Series: Virology Journal
• Subjects: Rotavirus; Antiviral activity; Transepithelial resistance; Plant extracts
• Online Access: http://www.virologyj.com/content/9/1/137

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Rotaviruses are the single most important cause of severe diarrhea in young children worldwide. The developments of specific, potent and accessible antiviral treatments that restrain rotavirus infection remain important to control rotavirus disease.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>150 plant extracts with nutritional applications were screened <it>in vitro</it> on MA-104 cells for their antiviral activity against rhesus rotavirus (RRV). One extract (<it>Aspalathus linearis</it> (Burm.f.) R.Dahlgren) was also tested for its effect on the loss of transepithelial resistance (TER) of Caco-2 cells caused by simian rotavirus (SA-11) infection.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Aqueous extracts of <it>Nelumbo nucifera</it> Gaertn. fruit, <it>Urtica dioica</it> L. root, <it>Aspalathus linearis</it> (Burm.f.) R.Dahlgren leaves, <it>Glycyrrhiza glabra</it> L. root and <it>Olea europaea</it> L. leaves were found to have strong significant antiviral activity with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) < 300 μg/ml. The pure compound 18ß-glycyrrhetinic acid from <it>Glycyrrhiza glabra</it> was found to have the strongest antiviral activity (IC50 46 μM), followed by luteolin and vitexin from <it>Aspalathus linearis</it> (IC50 respectively 116 μM and 129 μM) and apigenin-7-O-glucoside from <it>Melissa officinalis</it> (IC50 150 μM). A combination of <it>Glycyrrhiza glabra</it> L. + <it>Nelumbo nucifera</it> Gaertn. and <it>Urtica dioica L.</it> + <it>Nelumbo nucifera</it> Gaertn. showed synergy in their anti-viral activities. <it>Aspalathus linearis</it> (Burm.f.) R.Dahlgren showed no positive effect on the maintenance of the TER.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results indicate that nutritional intervention with extracts of <it>Nelumbo nucifera</it> Gaertn., <it>Aspalathus linearis</it> (Burm.f.) R.Dahlgren, <it>Urtica dioica</it> L., <it>Glycyrrhiza glabra</it> L. and <it>Olea europaea</it> L. might be useful in the treatment of diarrhea caused by rotavirus infection.</p>