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Published on: January 20, 2017
Antiviral activity of maca (Lepidium meyenii) against human influenza virus
Juana Del Valle Mendoza1, Tomàs Pumarola2, Libertad Alzamora Gonzales3
1Centro de Investigación de la Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas-UPC, Lima, Peru.
Objective:
To investigate antiviral activity of maca to reduce viral load in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells infected with influenza type A and B viruses (Flu-A and Flu-B, respectively).
Methods:
Maca were extracted with methanol (1:2, v/v). The cell viability and toxicity of the extracts were evaluated on MDCK cells using method MTT assay. Antiviral activity of compounds against Flu-A and Flu-B viruses was assayed using a test for determining the inhibition of the cytopathic effect on cell culture and multiplex RT-PCR.
Results:
The methanol extract of maca showed low cytotoxicity and inhibited influenza-induced cytopathic effect significantly, while viral load was reduced via inhibition of viral growth in MDCK infected cells. Maca contains potent inhibitors of Flu-A and Flu-B with a selectivity index [cytotoxic concentration 50%/IC50] of 157.4 and 110.5, respectively.
Conclusions:
In vitro assays demonstrated that maca has antiviral activity not only against Flu-A (like most antiviral agents) but also Flu-B viruses, providing remarkable therapeutic benefits.
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