Inhibition of herpes simplex virus infection by tannins and related compounds

• Published in: Antiviral research Vol. 11; no. 5-6; p. 285
• Main Authors: Fukuchi, K, Sakagami, H, Okuda, T, Hatano, T, Tanuma, S, Kitajima, K, Inoue, Y, Inoue, S, Ichikawa, S, Nonoyama, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands 01-06-1989
• Subjects: Adsorption; Animals; Antiviral Agents; Cells, Cultured; Chemical Phenomena; Chemistry; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Humans; Molecular Structure; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Polysaccharides - pharmacology; Simplexvirus - drug effects; Tannins - pharmacology; Viral Plaque Assay
• ISSN: 0166-3542
• DOI: 10.1016/0166-3542(89)90038-7

Several chemically defined plant extracts were investigated for their antiviral action on herpes simplex virus (HSV-1, HSV-2)-infected African green monkey kidney cells and human adenocarcinoma cells, using a plaque formation assay. Among them, the monomeric hydrolyzable tannins, oligomeric ellagitannins and condensed tannins, having galloyl groups or hexahydroxydiphenoyl groups, had the most potent anti-HSV activity. Their 50% effective doses (0.03-0.1 microgram/ml) were by two-three orders of magnitude lower than their 50% cytotoxic doses (greater than 10 micrograms/ml). On the other hand, gallic acid, neutral polysaccharides, chemically modified (N,N-dimethylaminoethyl-, carboxymethyl-, and sulfated-) glucans, sialic acid-rich glycoproteins, and uronic acid-rich pine cone polysaccharide showed little or no activity. Using radiolabeled virus particles, we demonstrated that the anti-HSV effect of the tannins is due to inhibition of virus adsorption to the cells.