Antiviral Activity of Avicennia Marina Leaf Extract on HSV-1 and Vaccine Strain of Polio Virus in Vero Cells

Abstract

Background: Nowadays finding the new natural compund with antiviral effects is very interesting. Avicennia marina is the most current species among the mangrove plants in Iran. Regarding to their applications in traditional medicine and some well known biological constituents of this plant an attempt was made to evaluate the in vitro antiviral effects of its leaf extract. Methods: The hot glycerine extract of the leaf was evaluated for its cytotoxicity on Vero cells by calculating the CC50 criteria. Also antiviral activity of the extract was evaluated against HSV-1(KOS strain) and vaccine strain of the polio virus(Sabin strain) in cell culture by calculating IC50 criteria. Results: The CC50 of the leaf extract was 5750.96 μg/ml. The IC50 of the extract against HSV-1 were 66 μg/ml and 137.24 μg/ml for the before attachment and post attachment stages of virus replication cycle respectively. The IC50 of the extract against Sabin strain of polio virus were 145.7 μg/ml and 314.3 μg/ml for the before attachment and post attachment stages of virus replication cycle respectively. Conclusion: The selectivity index (SI) values of the extract before and after virus attachment to the cells were 87.1 and 41.9 for HSV-1 and 39.5 and 18.3 for Sabin strain of polio virus respectively. According to the obtained SI values it could be concluded that the hot glycerine extract of Avicennia marina leaf showed the significant in vitro antiviral activity against HSV-1 as an enveloped virus and Sabin strain of poilo virus as a naked virus. Therefore, it could be a good candidate for further research in order to finding new natural antiviral compound.