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BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies
Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies 1/2021

Open Access 01-12-2021 | Oseltamivir | Research article

Potential antiviral effects of some native Iranian medicinal plants extracts and fractions against influenza A virus

Authors: Parvaneh Mehrbod, Hanieh Safari, Zeinab Mollai, Fatemeh Fotouhi, Yasaman Mirfakhraei, Hanieh Entezari, Saied Goodarzi, Zahra Tofighi

Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies | Issue 1/2021

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Abstract

Background

Influenza A virus (IAV) infection is a continual threat to the health of animals and humans globally. Consumption of the conventional drugs has shown several side effects and drug resistance. This study was aimed to screen some Iranian medicinal plants extracts and their fractions against influenza A virus.

Methods

Glycyrrhiza glabra (rhizome), Myrtus  commonis (leaves), Melissa officinalis (leaves), Hypericum perforatum (aerial parts), Tilia platyphyllos (flower), Salix alba (bark), and Camellia sinensis (green and fermented leaves) were extracted with 80% methanol and fractionated with chloroform and methanol, respectively. The cytotoxicity of the compounds were determined by MTT colorimetric assay on MDCK cells. The effective concentrations (EC50) of the compounds were calculated from the MTT results compared to the negative control with no significant effects on cell viability. The effects of EC50 of the compounds on viral surface glycoproteins and viral titer were tested by HI and HA virological assays, respectively and compared with oseltamivir and amantadine. Preliminary phytochemical analysis were done for promising anti-IAV extracts and fractions.

Results

The most effective samples against IAV titer (P ≤ 0.05) were crude extracts of G. glabra, M. officinalis and S. alba; methanol fractions of M. communis and M. officinalis; and chloroform fractions of M. communis and C. sinensis (fermented) mostly in co- and pre-penetration combined treatments. The potential extracts and fractions were rich in flavonoids, tannins, steroids and triterpenoids.

Conclusion

The outcomes confirmed a scientific basis for anti-influenza A virus capacity of the extracts and fractions from the selected plants for the first time, and correlated their effects with their phytochemical constituents. It is worth focusing on elucidating pure compounds and identifying their mechanism(s) of action.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Potential antiviral effects of some native Iranian medicinal plants extracts and fractions against influenza A virus
Authors
Parvaneh Mehrbod
Hanieh Safari
Zeinab Mollai
Fatemeh Fotouhi
Yasaman Mirfakhraei
Hanieh Entezari
Saied Goodarzi
Zahra Tofighi
Publication date
01-12-2021
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 2662-7671
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-021-03423-x

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