ABSTRACT
AIMS: To investigate the anti-HSV and anti-inflammatory effects of a standardized ethyl acetate extract (SEAE) prepared with the stem bark of Strychnos pseudoquina, along with two isolated compounds: quercetin 3-O-methyl ether (3MQ) and strychnobiflavone (SBF). METHODS AND RESULTS: The mechanisms of action were evaluated by different methodological strategies. SEAE and SBF affected the early stages of viral infection and reduced HSV-1 protein expression. Both flavonoids elicited a concentration-dependent inhibition of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), whereas 3MQ reduced the chemokine release more significantly than SBF. Conversely, both compounds stimulated the production of the cytokines TNF-α and IL-1-ß in LPS-stimulated cells, especially at the intermediate and the highest tested concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: SEAE and SBF interfered with various steps of HSV replication cycle, mainly adsorption, postadsorption and penetration, as well as with ß and γ viral proteins expression; moreover, a direct inactivation of viral particles was observed. Besides, both flavonoids inhibited MCP-1 selectively, a feature that may be beneficial for the development of new anti-HSV agents. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The results indicated that the samples present anti-HSV and anti-inflammatory activities, at different levels, which is an interesting feature since cold and genital sores are accompanied by an inflammation process.
Subject(s)
Antiviral Agents/pharmacology , Biflavonoids/pharmacology , Herpesvirus 1, Human/drug effects , Quercetin/analogs & derivatives , Strychnos/chemistry , Animals , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/chemistry , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology , Antiviral Agents/chemistry , Biflavonoids/chemistry , Brazil , Cell Line , Chemokine CCL2/metabolism , Chlorocebus aethiops , Cytokines/metabolism , Herpesvirus 1, Human/physiology , Humans , Plant Extracts/chemistry , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Plants, Medicinal/chemistry , Quercetin/chemistry , Quercetin/pharmacology , Vero CellsABSTRACT
Lucio is one of the many brasilian boys who die of the normal violence of misery. His funeral is proposed as a case story on the essential components of "death with dignity".
