<i>Clinacanthus nutans</i> (Burm. f.) Lindau Extract Inhibits Dengue Virus Infection and Inflammation in the Huh7 Hepatoma Cell Line

• Main Authors: Kanyaluck Jantakee (Author), Suthida Panwong (Author), Pachara Sattayawat (Author), Ratchaneewan Sumankan (Author), Sasithorn Saengmuang (Author), Kiattawee Choowongkomon (Author), Aussara Panya (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: MDPI AG, 2024-07-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.3390/antibiotics13080705; 2079-6382
• Keywords: dengue virus; <i>Clinacanthus nutans</i>; antiviral agent; pro-inflammatory cytokine; anti-inflammation; NF-κB signaling; Therapeutics. Pharmacology; RM1-950
• Source: Antibiotics, Vol 13, Iss 8, p 705 (2024)

Dengue virus (DENV) infection has emerged as a global health problem, with no specific treatment available presently. <i>Clinacanthus nutans</i> (Burm. f.) Lindau extract has been used in traditional medicine for its anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties. We thus hypothesized <i>C. nutans</i> had a broad-ranged activity to inhibit DENV and the liver inflammation caused by DENV infection. The study showed that treatment using <i>C. nutans</i> extract during DENV infection (co-infection step) showed the highest efficiency in lowering the viral antigen concentration to 22.87 ± 6.49% at 31.25 μg/mL. In addition, the virus-host cell binding assay demonstrated that <i>C. nutans</i> treatment greatly inhibited the virus after its binding to Huh7 cells. Moreover, it could remarkably lower the expression of cytokine and chemokine genes, including <i>TNF-α</i>, <i>CXCL10</i>, <i>IL-6</i>, and <i>IL-8</i>, in addition to inflammatory mediator <i>COX-2</i> genes. Interestingly, the activation of the NF-κB signaling cascade after <i>C. nutans</i> extract treatment was dramatically decreased, which could be the underlying mechanism of its anti-inflammatory activity. The HPLC profile showed that gallic acid was the bioactive compound of <i>C. nutans</i> extract and might be responsible for the antiviral properties of <i>C. nutans</i>. Taken together, our results revealed the potential of <i>C. nutans</i> extract to inhibit DENV infection and lower inflammation in infected cells.