Identification and mechanistic investigation of the Chinese herb Danshen active components with anti-HCV activity

• Main Authors: Yao-wen Hsieh, 謝耀文
• Other Authors: Ju-Chien Cheng
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2008
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/00387559639538196845

碩士 === 朝陽科技大學 === 生物技術研究所 === 96 === HCV infection causes persistent inflammation, and may sequentially develop liver cirrhosis that could progress further to hepatoma. Interferon alone or pegylated interferon(PEG-IFN) combined with ribavirin is the current treatment strategy. It will induce strong side effects during treating processes. Therefore, it is considerable to develop a new strategy to prevent HCV infection and / or increase the successful rate for the therapy of HCV infection. The aim of this research is to find out the anti-HCV activity of Danshen and its compounds and the possible mechanisms will also be investigated. The subgenomic replicon was used to evaluate the efficacy of anti-HCV activity. Western blot assay was performed and the data showed that HCV viral protein expression was inhibited by Danshen. Since the anti-HCV activity may cause by RdRp acitivity inhibition, an HCV RdRp activity platform was set up. In addition to Danshen crude extract, the derived compound, cryptotanshinone, can suppress HCV RNA production, viral protein expression and HCV RdRp activity. The combination assay demonstrated that cryptotanshinone and PEG-IFN showed synergistic effects on viral replication. Danshen is widely used in the coronary heart disease, and has been reported to exert antifibrotic effects in hepatic fibrosis. Our data imply that Danshen consists of active components with intrinsic inhibitory activity on HCV infection.