ABSTRACT
Objective To study the effects of atractylodes I, II, and III against rotavirus in vitro and in vivo. Methods An in vitro study model was established using Caco-2 cells. The cytopathic effect (CPE) and MTT staining were used to determine the toxicity of atractylenolide I, II, and III to cells for the inhibition of rotavirus biosynthesis, direct inactivation of rotavirus, and antiviral adsorption, with ribavirin as a positive drug. With half of the therapeutic concentration (EC50) and half of the cytotoxic concentration (TC50), the treatment index TI value was obtained and used as the evaluation index. An RV-infected model of suckling diarrhea was established in vivo to observe the signs and symptoms of the suckling mice, and the in vivo anti-rotavirus effect was preliminarily determined according to the diarrhea score and the weight gain. Results In vitro studies found that atractylenolide III had the direct inactivation effect on rotavirus with TI value of 8; atractylodes III medium-dose group has the best anti-rotavirus effect in vivo. Conclusion Atractylodes III, the main active component of Atractylodes macrocephala, has significant anti-rotavirus effect in vitro and in vivo; Atractylenolide III mainly works by directly inactivating rotavirus in vitro.