ABSTRACT
<i>Objective</i>: Anti-human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) activity of 5 compounds, especially tricin, isolated from Kumazasa extract were investigated in the human embryonic lung (HEL) fibroblast cell.<br> <i>Method</i>: This study examined the effect of tricin on HCMV replication, viral-specific major immediate early (IE) gene expression, and protein synthesis.<br> <i>Results</i>: Pretreatment of HEL cells before HCMV infection with tricin inhibited viral production in a dose-dependent manner, as well as posttreatment of HCMV-infected HEL cells with tricin. Real-time RT-PCR assay and Western blotting analysis indicated that tricin decreased expression of the HCMV IE gene in virus-infected HEL cell.<br> <i>Conclusion</i>: These date suggest that the primary mechanism of anti-HCMV activity for tricin, isolated from Kumazasa hot water extract, inhibit IE gene expression.<br>