Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Antiviral activities of extracts from Hong Kong seaweeds

  • Published:
Journal of Zhejiang University SCIENCE B Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We extracted six Hong Kong brown seaweed species with hot water for their antiviral properties. The cytotoxicity and antiviral activity of these extracts were tested by MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenlytetrezolium bromide] method, cytopathic effect reduction assay, and plaque reduction assay. The antiviral effect was further determined by flow cytometric analysis. The results showed that most of these extracts inhibited the propagation of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2) standard strains with very low cytotoxicity to the host cells. The extracts of Hydroclathrus clathratus and Lobophora variegata showed more potential anti-HSV activities than the extracts of the other four seaweeds. They also had moderate antirespiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activities but could not inhibit influenza A virus. Hydroclathrus clathratus was further extracted by diluted acid and alkali and the antiviral effects of the extracts were also detected. The result showed that the hot water extract contained the main carbohydrate components that exhibited the antiviral activities against various strains of HSV, including the acyclovir-resistant strain. HI-3, a compound fractionated from this hot water extract, showed a dose-dependent anti-HSV activity in flow cytometric analysis and plaque reduction assay.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahn, M.J., Yoon, K.D., Kim, C.Y., Min, S.Y., Kim, Y., Kim, H.J., Kim, J.H., Shin, C.G., Lee, C.K., Kim, T.G., et al., 2002. Inhibition of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase and HIV-1 integrase and antiviral activity of Korean seaweed extracts. J. Appl. Phycol., 14(5):325–329. [doi:10.1023/A:1022192329471]

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alché, L.E., Barquero, A.A., Sanjuan, N.A., Coto, C.E., 2002. An antiviral principle present in a purified fraction from Melia Azedarach L. leaf aqueous extract restrains herpes simplex virus type-1 propagation. Phytother. Res., 16(4): 348–352. [doi:10.1002/ptr.895]

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ammendolia, M.G., Marchetti, M., Superti, F., 2007. Bovine lactoferrin prevents the entry and intercellular spread of herpes simplex virus type 1 in Green Monkey Kidney cells. Antiviral Res., 76(3):252–262. [doi:10.1016/j.antiviral.2007.07.005]

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ang, P.O., 2005. Studies of Marine Algae in Hong Kong. In: Critichley, A.T., Ohno, M., Largo, D. (Eds.), World Seaweed Resources. ETI Information Services Ltd., Wokingham, Berkshire, UK, Part 3. 04.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baba, M., Snoeck, R., Pauwels, R., de Clercq, E., 1988. Sulfated polysaccharides are potent and selective inhibitors of various enveloped viruses, including herpes simplex virus, cytomegalovirus, vesicular stomatitis virus, and human immunodeficiency virus. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother., 32(11):1742–1745.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Becker, Y., 2007. Past, present and future of RSV and PIV vaccines and anti-RSV antibodies for the protection of humans against RSV. Expert Opin. Ther. Pat., 17(8): 941–953. [doi:10.1517/13543776.17.8.941]

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Béress, A., Wassermann, O., Bruhn, T., Béress, L., 1993. A new procedure for the isolation of anti-HIV compounds (polysaccharides and polyphenols) from the marine alga Fucus vesiculosus. J. Nat. Prod., 56(4):478–488. [doi:10.1021/np50094a005]

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bourne, K.Z., Bourne, N., Reising, S.F., Stanberry, L.R., 1999. Plant products as topical microbicide candidates: assessment of in vitro and in vivo activity against herpes simplex virus type 2. Antiviral Res., 42(3):219–226. [doi:10.1016/S0166-3542(99)00020-0]

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Burleson, F.G., Chambers, T.M., Wiedbrauk, D.L., 1992. Virology: A Laboratory Manual. Academic Press, California, San Diego, p.53–61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chi-Ming Chiu, L., Zhu, W., Eng-Choon Ooi, V., 2004. A polysaccharide fraction from medicinal herb Prunella vulgaris downregulates the expression of herpes simplex virus antigen in Vero cells. J. Ethnopharmacol., 93(1): 63–68. [doi:10.1016/j.jep.2004.03.024]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chutkowski, C., Olson, B., McDonough, A., Mahoney, J., McSharry, J.J., 2002. Use of a single monoclonal antibody to determine the susceptibilities of herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 clinical isolates to acyclovir. Clin. Diagn. Lab. Immunol., 9(6):1379–1381. [doi:10.1128/CDLI.9.6.1379-1381.2002]

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Damonte, E., Neyts, J., Pujol, C.A., Snoeck, R., Andrei, G., Ikeda, S., Witvrouw, M., Reymen, D., Haines, H., Matulewicz, M.C., et al., 1994. Antiviral activity of a sulphated polysaccharide from the red seaweed Nothogenia fastigiata. Biochem. Pharmacol., 47(12): 2187–2192. [doi:10.1016/0006-2952(94)90254-2]

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • de Clercq, E., 1985. Antiviral and antimetabolic activities of neplanocins. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother., 28(1): 84–89.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • de Clercq, E., 1996. Perspectives for the chemotherapy of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections. Int. J. Antimicrob. Agents, 7(3):193–202. [doi:10.1016/S0924-8579(96)00319-6]

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • González, M.E., Alarcón, B., Carrasco, L., 1987. Polysaccharides as antiviral agents: antiviral activity of carrageenan. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother., 31(9):1388–1393.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Huleihel, M., Ishanu, V., Tal, J., Arad, S., 2001. Antiviral effect of red microalgal polysaccharides on herpes simplex and Varicella zoster viruses. J. Appl. Phycol., 13(2): 127–134. [doi:10.1023/A:1011178225912]

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kneyber, M.C.J., Moll, H.A., de Groot, R., 2000. Treatment and prevention of respiratory syncytial virus infection. Eur. J. Pediatr., 159(6):399–411. [doi:10.1007/s004310051296]

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li, Y.L., But, P.P.H., Ooi, V.E.C., 2005. Antiviral activity and mode of action of caffeoylquinic acids from Schefflera heptaphylla (L.) Frodin. Antiviral Res., 68(1):1–9. [doi:10.1016/j.antiviral.2005.06.004]

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, A.M.S., Lehmann, V.K.B., 2000. Marine pharmacology in 1998: marine compounds with antibacterial, anticoagulant, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic, antiplatelet, antiprotozoal, and antiviral activities; with actions on the cardiovascular, endocrine, immune, and nervous systems, and other miscellaneous mechanism of action. The Pharmacologist, 42:62–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nakashima, H., Kido, Y., Kobayashi, N., Motoki, Y., Neushul, M., Yamamoto, N., 1987. Prification and characterization of an avian myeloblastosis and human immunodeficiency virus reverse transcriptase inhibitor, sulfated polysaccharides extracted from sea algae. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother., 31(10):1524–1528.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ponce, N.M.A, Pujol, C.A., Damonte, E.B., Flores, M.L., Stortz, C.A., 2003. Fucoidans from the brown seaweed Adenocystis utricularis: extraction methods, antiviral activity and structural studies. Carbohydr. Res., 338(2): 153–165. [doi:10.1016/S0008-6215(02)00403-2]

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Scott, P.D., Ochola, R., Sande, D., Ngama, M., Okiro, E.A., Medley, G.F., Nokes, D.J., Cane, P.A., 2007. Comparison of strain-specific antibody responese during primary and secondary infections with respiratory syncytial virus. J. Med. Virol., 79(12):1943–1950. [doi:10.1002/jmv.20999]

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Serkedjieva, J., Ivancheva, S., 1998. Antiherpes virus activity of extracts from the medicinal plant Geranium sanguineum L. J. Ethnopharmacol., 64(1):59–68. [doi:10.1016/S0378-8741(98)00095-6]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, H., Li, Y.L., Shen, W.Z., Rui, W., Ma, X.J., Cen, Y.Z., 2007a. Antiviral activity of a sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol (SQDG) compound isolated from the green alga Caulerpa racemosa. Botanica Marina, 50(3):185–190. [doi:10.1515/BOT.2007.022]

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, H., Ooi, E.C.V., Ang, P.O.Jr., 2007b. Antiviral polysaccharides isolated from Hong Kong brown seaweed Hydroclathrus clathratus. Sci. China C Life Sci., 50(5): 611–618. [doi:10.1007/s11427-007-0086-1]

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Witvrouw, M., de Clercq, E., 1997. Sulfated polysaccharides extracted from sea algae as potential antiviral drugs. Gen. Pharmacol., 29(4):497–511. [doi:10.1016/S0306-3623(96)00563-0]

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu, W., 2002. Antiviral Activities of Selected Hong Kong Marine Algae against Herpes Simplex Viruses and Other Viruses and Their Possible Antiviral Mechanisms. PhD Thesis, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China, p.186–188.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu, W., Ooi, V.E.C., Chan, P.K.S., Ang, P.O.Jr., 2003. Isolation and characterization of a sulfated polysaccharide from the brown alga Sargassum patens and determination of its anti-herpes activity. Biochem. Cell Biol., 81(1): 25–33. [doi:10.1139/o02-169]

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical College, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China

    Hui Wang

  2. Department of Biology, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin N.T., Hong Kong, China

    Engchoon Vincent Ooi & Put O. Ang Jr.

Authors
  1. Hui Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Engchoon Vincent Ooi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Put O. Ang Jr.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Put O. Ang Jr..

Additional information

Project (No. CUHK4367/01M) supported by the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong SAR, China

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wang, H., Ooi, E.V. & Ang, P.O. Antiviral activities of extracts from Hong Kong seaweeds. J. Zhejiang Univ. Sci. B 9, 969–976 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.B0820154

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.B0820154

Key words

CLC number

Search

Navigation