Abstract

ANTIVIRAL ACTIVITY OF BIOASSAY GUIDED FRACTIONATION OF PLUMBAGO ZEYLANICA ROOTS AGAINST HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS TYPE 2

Sesha Poornima Boominathan, Gopalsamy Sarangan, Sarala Srikakulapu, Suma Rajesh, Chamundeeswari Duraipandian, Padma Srikanth

ABSTRACT

Due to emergence of resistance to antiviral agents among Herpes simplex viruses, there is need for development of new antiviral drug from new compounds by identifying potential phytocomponents from the medicinal plants. In this study we evaluated the antiviral activity of ethanolic, ethyl acetate extract bioactive compounds such as plumbagin and mixture of flavonoids of Plumbago zeylanica roots against Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 on human epidermoid carcinoma cell line. Our findings showed that the ethyl acetate extract at a concentration of 4 g/ml exhibited significant activity against Herpes Simplex Virus-2 whereas ethanolic extract had no inhibitory effect. As ethyl acetate possessed significant antiviral activity it was subjected to column chromatography and high pressure liquid chromatography. Mixture of flavonoids exhibited antiviral potency against Herpes Simplex Virus type 2 at a concentration of 0.048 g/ml as evidence by inhibition of cytopathic effect and plumbagin showed partial cytopathic effect inhibition at a concentration of 4 g/ml to the cell line used. Therefore, the roots of Plumbago zeylanica derivatives can be one of the good sources for treating Herpes Simplex Virus type 2 infections. Further research is needed to elucidate the active molecules of flavonoids responsible for the inhibiting activity to help in the development of new antiviral agents.

Keywords: Column chromatography, HEp-2, HPLC, HSV-2, Plumbago zeylanica.