chikusetsu-saponin-iva and Herpes-Genitalis

Chikusetsusaponin IVa and calenduloside E were isolated from the whole plant of Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb (Amaranthaceae) and evaluated for their antiviral activities. Chikusetsusaponin IVa showed antiviral activities against HSV-1, HSV-2, human cytomegalovirus, measles virus, and mumps virus with selectivity indices (CC (50)/IC (50)) of 29, 30, 73, 25, and 25, respectively. On the other hand, calenduloside E showed no antiviral effects against any of the viruses tested. The mode of HSV-2 action of chikusetsusaponin IVa was determined under different experimental conditions. The anti-HSV-2 target of the compound might be mainly related to direct inactivation of virus particles and to the inhibition of release of progeny viruses from infected cells, but it is not related to inhibition of viral attachment, cell penetration, and viral protein synthesis. This compound also provided in vivo efficacy in a mouse model of genital herpes caused by HSV-2. These results demonstrate that chikusetsusaponin IVa might be a candidate of antiherpetic agents.

Topics: Amaranthaceae; Animals; Antiviral Agents; Cell Line; Herpes Genitalis; Herpesvirus 2, Human; Humans; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Molecular Structure; Oleanolic Acid; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Saponins; Virus Diseases; Virus Replication