Activity of Baicalin Against Human Cytomegalovirus In Vitro and Its Effect on the Apoptosis of Human Embryo Lung Fibroblasts Infected with Human Cytomegalovirus / 医药导报

ABSTRACT

Objective To elucidate activity of baicalin against human cytomegalovirus ( HCMV) in vitro, and explore its effect on apoptosis of human embryo lung fibroblasts ( HEL ) infected with HCMV. Methods CCK-8 kit was used to determine the maximum tolerated dose ( MTC ) of HEL cell to baicalin while the anti-HCMV median efficacious concentration ( EC50 ) of baicalin was determined by standard plaque reduction method. After treatment with baicalin of different concentrations for 24, 48, 72 and 96 h, cell apoptosis and pro-caspase-3 expression was detected by flow cytometry and Western blotting, respectively. Results The MTC of baicalin was 20.6 μg?mL-1; The EC50 of anti-HCMV of baicalin was 16.13 μg?mL-1;The apoptosis rate increased gradually in the groups with low and high multiplicity HCMV infection at early time, showing significant dose-dependent manner. While the ratio of apoptotic cells was going to decrease in high multiplicity infection group 96 h after the infection. The expression of pro-caspase-3 was significantly higher in high-dose baicalin treatment group than in the infection control group ( P<0.05) . Conclusion Baicalin has a direct anti-HCMV effect in vitro. One of the mechanisms might be related with it inhibiting cell apoptosis and antagonizing activation of pro-caspase-3.