Open AccessAntiviral Activity of Extracts from Marine Algae
Author(s) -
Richards Jt,
Kern Er,
Lowell A. Glasgow,
Overall Jc,
Deign Ef,
Hatch Mt
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.07
H-Index - 259
eISSN - 1070-6283
pISSN - 0066-4804
DOI - 10.1128/aac.14.1.24
Subject(s) - semliki forest virus , virology , herpes simplex virus , virus , biology , vaccinia , microbiology and biotechnology , vesicular stomatitis virus , viral shedding , viral replication , herpesviridae , viral culture , viral disease , rna , biochemistry , gene , recombinant dna
Extracts of two species of marine algae,Constantinea simplex andFarlowia mollis , were tested for antiviral activity in tissue culture and in experimental infections of mice. Treatment of confluent mouse embryo fibroblast cell monolayers with either compound before viral inoculation was effective in inhibiting the replication of herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2, vaccinia virus, and vesicular stomatitis virus, but not encephalomyocarditis virus, Semliki Forest virus, or murine cytomegalovirus. Prophylactic administration of these extracts was effective in reducing final mortality or prolonging the mean day of death of animals inoculated by the intraperitoneal, intracerebral, or intranasal routes with herpes simplex virus type 2. When therapy was initiated after viral inoculation or at a site other than that of viral inoculation, no significant effect on mortality or on mean day of death was observed. Neither preparation was effective in mice inoculated intraperitoneally with encephalomyocarditis virus, Semliki Forest virus, or murine cytomegalovirus or in animals infected intravaginally with herpes simplex virus type 2. The prophylactic but not therapeutic antiviral activity of these preparations seriously limits their potential use in human herpes simplex virus infections.