Abstract:
Objective: A traditional herbal medicine extracted from Geum japonicum Thunb. (GJ) with hot water, which had exhibited antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus in a mouse model, was also examined for its prophylactic efficacy against cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in immunosuppressed mice. In the cell-culture system, GJ was assayed for its anti-HIV activity. Futhermore, a purified extract of GJ was also tested to inquire its anti-HIV activity by the inhibition of reverse-transcriptase RT) activity. Methods: Dried traditional herbal medicine, GJ, was boiled, filtered, lyophilized, and resuspended in distilled waster at the concentration of 20mg/ml. After an additional boiling, the extract was orally administered at 5mg/dose three times a day to female ICR mice treated with 50mg/kg of cyclosporine. Ganciclovir was also administered intraperitoneally. These mice were infected intraperitoneally with 1,000 PFU of murine CMV (MCMV) (Smith strain). Virus infection in the lung was assessed on day 16 after infection. MT-4 cells acutely infected with HIV-1LAI were used for the evaluation of activity of GJ against HIV infection. RT activity was assayed in the presence of the purified extract of GJ by the conventional assay system with poly(rA), p(dT12-18) as the template. Results: GJ strongly suppressed the virus-yield in the lung of mouse at a conventional dose for human. Its anti-MCMV activity with the treatment 750mg/kg/day (p.o.) of GJ corresponds to that with 2mg/kg/day (i.p.) of ganciclovir. A purified extract of GJ shows the strong anti-HIV activity. GJ exhibited partial anti-HIV activity against HIV at 2 micrograms/ml in cell-culture system. RT-activity was reduced in the presence of this agent. The levels of inhibition of RT were 22, 60, 93% at 2, 20, 200 micromolar, respectively. Conclusions: Strong anti-CMV activity assessed in mouse-model may be beneficial for the prophylaxis of retinitis caused by CMV infection in AIDS patients. GJ may also active against HIV infection.
Keywords: *Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/COMPLICATIONS *Antiviral Agents/PHARMACOLOGY *Cytomegalovirus Infections/PREVENTION & CONTROL *Plant Extracts/PHARMACOLOGY 970130
M9716076
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