FEBS Letters · 2001 · 51 citations · 15 references
MedicineInfectious DiseasesPharmacologyInfectious Disease PharmacotherapyMolecular VirologyVirologyAntiviral AgentsAntiviral ImmunityAntiviral PharmacologyAntiviral TherapyInterferon-based TherapyViral InfectionsAcyclovir TherapyAntiviral Drug MechanismsAntiviral TherapeuticsDirect-acting Antiviral AgentsHerpesvirus Antiviral TherapyInhibition Of Interferon ResponsesTherapeutic Antiviral TherapyTreatment Of Herpesvirus Infections
Trichosanthin (TCS) is a type I ribosome-inactivating protein that has a wide range of pharmacological activities. The present study investigated the effectiveness of TCS on herpes simplex virus (HSV-1). The anti-viral activity and toxicity of TCS on Vero cells were measured. Results showed that the ED(50), TD(50) and the therapeutic indices were 38.5, 416.5 and 10.9 microg/ml, respectively. Anti-viral activity of TCS was substantially potentiated when it was used in conjunction with other anti-viral agents. The ED(50) of TCS was reduced 125-fold by acyclovir at a concentration of 0.001 microg/ml, which was practically devoid of significant anti-viral activity. Similarly, the ED(50) of TCS was reduced 100-fold by interferon-alpha2a at a concentration of 100 IU/ml. In conclusion, TCS is effective against HSV-1 and other anti-viral agents such as acyclovir or interferon can potentiate its action substantially.
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Michael S. McGrath, Keumrock Hwang, Shannon Caldwell et al. · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · 1989 · 303 citations · Full text