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Published on: September 20, 2021
Antiviral effects of blackberry extract against herpes simplex virus type 1
Robert J Danaher1, Chunmei Wang, Jin Dai
1Department of Oral Health Practice, Center for Oral Health Research, College of Dentistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to evaluate antiviral properties of blackberry extract against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) in vitro.
Study Design:
HSV-infected oral epithelial (OKF6) cells and cell-free virus suspensions were treated with blackberry extract (2.24-1,400 microg/mL), and virus yield and infectivity were quantified by direct plaque assay.
Results:
Blackberry extract ≥56 microg/mL inhibited HSV-1 replication in oral epithelial cells by >99% (P < .005). Concentrations ≥280 microg/mL were antiviral when the extract was added after virus adsorption and entry. Exposure of cell-free virus to ≥280 microg/mL blackberry extract for 15 minutes at room temperature was virucidal (P = .0002). The virucidal effects were not due to pH changes at concentrations up to 1,500 microg/mL.
Conclusions:
Blackberry extract inhibited the early stages of HSV-1 replication and had potent virucidal activity. These properties suggest that this natural fruit extract could provide advantage as a topical prophylactic/therapeutic agent for HSV infections.
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