Effect of <i>Phyllanthus amarus</i> on duck hepatitis B virus replication in vivo

Abstract

Abstract Nine ducks congenitally infected with the duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) were treated either orally (four ducks for 10 weeks) or intraperitoneally (five ducks for 12 weeks) with the Indian traditional herbal remedy Phyllanthus amarus . Compared to placebo‐treated control ducks, these treatments did not result in a reduction of circulating viral DNA in the serum or in the level of viral DNA replication in the liver. In two of the five intraperitoneal‐treated ducks, a reduction in the levels of duck hepatitis B surface antigenaemia (DHBsAg) was observed. The data strongly suggest that Phyllanthus amarus has no significant inhibitory effect on DHBV DNA replication and only a minor effect on DHBsAg production.