Plants from northeast Mexico with anti-HSV activity

Area of Science:

• Phytochemistry
• Virology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Ethnomedical uses of Mexican plants suggest potential antiviral properties.
• Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections remain a significant public health concern.
• Limited therapeutic options necessitate the search for novel antiviral agents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the in vitro antiviral activity of three Mexican plants against HSV-1 and HSV-2.
• To identify the active compounds responsible for the observed anti-HSV effects.

Main Methods:

• Hydro-methanolic extracts of Jatropha dioica, Salvia texana, and S. ballotaeflora were prepared.
• Cytotoxicity was assessed using Vero cells.
• Antiviral activity was determined by plaque reduction assay against HSV-1 and HSV-2.
• Bioassay-guided fractionation was employed to isolate active compounds.

Main Results:

• Jatropha dioica extract exhibited low cytotoxicity (CC50 644 microg/mL) and significant anti-HSV activity (IC50s 280 microg/mL for HSV-1, 370 microg/mL for HSV-2).
• Salvia species showed cytotoxicity at low concentrations.
• The n-hexane partition of J. dioica extract retained potent antiviral activity.
• Riolozatrione, a known diterpene, was identified as a potential active principle.

Conclusions:

• Jatropha dioica possesses significant in vitro antiviral activity against HSV-1 and HSV-2.
• Riolozatrione is identified as a key compound contributing to the anti-HSV effects of J. dioica.
• Jatropha dioica represents a promising source for the development of novel anti-HSV therapeutics.