Antiherpevirus activity of <it>Artemisia arborescens </it>essential oil and inhibition of lateral diffusion in Vero cells

• Main Authors: Casu Laura (Author), Chisu Lorenza (Author), Cottiglia Filippo (Author), Sanna Adriana (Author), Saddi Manuela (Author), Bonsignore Leonardo (Author), De Logu Alessandro (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: BMC, 2007-09-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>New prophylactic and therapeutic tools are needed for the treatment of herpes simplex virus infections. Several essential oils have shown to possess antiviral activity <it>in vitro </it>against a wide spectrum of viruses.</p> <p>Aim</p> <p>The present study was assess to investigate the activities of the essential oil obtained from leaves of <it>Artemisia arborescens </it>against HSV-1 and HSV-2</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The cytotoxicity in Vero cells was evaluated by the MTT reduction method. The IC₅₀values were determined by plaque reduction assay. In order to characterize the mechanism of action, yield reduction assay, inhibition of plaque development assay, attachment assay, penetration assay and post-attachment virus neutralization assay were also performed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The IC₅₀values, determined by plaque reduction assay, were 2.4 and 4.1 μg/ml for HSV-1 and HSV-2, respectively, while the cytotoxicity assay against Vero cells, as determined by the MTT reduction method, showed a CC₅₀value of 132 μg/ml, indicating a CC₅₀/IC₅₀ratio of 55 for HSV-1 and 32.2 for HSV-2. The antiviral activity of <it>A. arborescens </it>essential oil is principally due to direct virucidal effects. A poor activity determined by yield reduction assay was observed against HSV-1 at higher concentrations when added to cultures of infected cells. No inhibition was observed by attachment assay, penetration assay and post-attachment virus neutralization assay. Furthermore, inhibition of plaque development assay showed that <it>A. arborescens </it>essential oil inhibits the lateral diffusion of both HSV-1 and HSV-2.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study demonstrates the antiviral activity of the essential oil <it>in toto </it>obtained from <it>A. arborescens </it>against HSV-1 and HSV-2. The mode of action of the essential oil as antiherpesvirus agent seems to be particularly interesting in consideration of its ability to inactivate the virus and to inhibit the cell-to-cell virus diffusion.</p>

Item Description

10.1186/1476-0711-6-10
1476-0711