Antiviral effect and mode of action of methanolic extract of Verbascum thapsus L. on pseudorabies virus (strain RC/79)

Nat Prod Res. 2012;26(17):1621-5. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2011.576394. Epub 2011 Oct 17.

Abstract

The methanolic extract of Verbascum thapsus was evaluated for its antiviral activity against the pseudorabies virus strain RC/79 (PrV), and also for its cytotoxic activity on Vero cells. The extract showed CC₅₀ values of 1100 µg mL⁻¹ and 1426 µg mL⁻¹ by NRU and MTT assays, respectively. The 50% inhibitory concentration of the extract for PrV plaque formation was determined at 35 µg mL⁻¹, and selectivity indices were 31.4 (NRU) and 40.7 (MTT). When cells were pre-treated with the extract prior to virus infection, the inhibition in plaque formation was 70%. PrV was highly inhibited when it was incubated with plant extract or when the extract was added during the adsorption phase (99%). However, no inhibitory effect was observed when the extract was added to the cells after the adsorption period. Thus, these results suggest that the methanolic extract of Verbascum thapsus may contain bioactive compound(s) that affect PrV mostly in the adsorption phase.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology*
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Herpesvirus 1, Suid / drug effects*
  • Methanol / chemistry*
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry*
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Verbascum / chemistry*
  • Vero Cells
  • Viral Plaque Assay

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Plant Extracts
  • Methanol