In vitro anti-enterovirus 71 activity of gallic acid from Woodfordia fruticosa flowers

Lett Appl Microbiol. 2010 Apr;50(4):438-40. doi: 10.1111/j.1472-765X.2010.02805.x. Epub 2010 Jan 22.

Abstract

Aims: The anti-enterovirus 71 (EV71) activity of six Nepalese plants' extracts and gallic acid (GA) isolated from Woodfordia fruticosa Kurz (family; Lythaceae) flowers were evaluated in Vero cells.

Methods and results: The anti-EV71 activity of tested compounds was evaluated by a cytopathic effect reduction method. Our results demonstrated that flowers' extracts of W. fruticosa exerted strong anti-EV71 activity, with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) of 1.2 microg ml(-1) and no cytotoxicity at a concentration of 100 microg ml(-1), and the derived therapeutic index (TI) was more than 83.33. Rivabirin showed no antiviral activity against EV71. Furthermore, GA isolated from W. fruticosa flowers exhibited a higher anti-EV71 activity than the extract of W. fruticosa flowers, with an IC(50) of 0.76 microg ml(-1) and no cytotoxicity at a concentration of 100 microg ml(-1), and the derived TI was 99.57.

Conclusions: This study demonstrated that flower extracts of W. fruticosa possessed anti-EV71 activity and GA isolated from these flowers showed stronger anti-EV71 activity than that the extracts.

Significance and impact of the study: Our results suggest that the GA from W. fruticosa flowers may be used as a potential antiviral agent.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antiviral Agents / isolation & purification
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology*
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Enterovirus A, Human / drug effects*
  • Flowers / chemistry
  • Gallic Acid / isolation & purification
  • Gallic Acid / pharmacology*
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Plant Extracts / isolation & purification
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Vero Cells
  • Woodfordia / chemistry*

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Plant Extracts
  • Gallic Acid