Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Early Viral Entry Assays for the Identification and Evaluation of Antiviral Compounds
Published on: October 29, 2015
Antiviral biflavonoids from Radix Wikstroemiae (Liaogewanggen)
Weihuan Huang1, Xiaoli Zhang, Yifei Wang
1Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Natural Products, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China. tliyl@jnu.edu.cn.
Background:
Radix Wikstroemiae is a common Chinese herbal medicine. The ethyl acetate fraction of the ethanolic extract of W. indica possesses potent in vitro antiviral activity against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). This study aims to identify the antiviral components of the active fraction.
Methods:
The active fraction of the Radix Wikstroemiae extract was isolated with chromatographic methods such as silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and semi-preparative high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) columns. The structures of the isolated compounds were determined based on spectroscopic analyses. The in vitro antiviral activity of the compounds against RSV was tested with the cytopathic effect (CPE) reduction assay and the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) method.
Results:
Four biflavonoids, namely neochamaejasmin B, genkwanol B, genkwanol C and stelleranol, were isolated and characterized. Genkwanol B, genkwanol C and stelleranol, which are stereo isomers of spirobiflavonoids, showed potent anti-RSV activity whereas neochamaejasmin B did not.
Conclusion:
Neochamaejasmin B, genkwanol B, genkwanol C and stelleranol were isolated from Radix Wikstroemiae and the complete absolute configurations of five chiral carbons in stelleranol were substantiated for the first time. Furthermore, the anti-RSV activity of genkwanol B, genkwanol C and stelleranol was reported for the first time.
Related Concept Videos
Antiviral Nucleoside Inhibitors
Inhibitors Of Virion Release
Inhibitors of Virion Maturation and Assembly
Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis
Antifungal Agents
Subviral Agents

