Curcumin inhibits bovine herpesvirus type 1 entry into MDBK cells

The generation of antiviral drugs from herbs and other natural resources with traditionally long-confirmed effects is an efficient approach. So far, no herb or components from herbs that could inhibit bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BoHV-1) replication have been described. In this study, the antiviral effect of curcumin, a natural phenolic constituent of the spice turmeric, on BoHV-1 replication was evaluated in cell culture. We demonstrated that curcumin impairs BoHV-1 viral particles and affects the virus post-binding entry process. Furthermore, curcumin upregulated the proportion of the plasma membrane adopting a lipid raft conformation in MDBK cells, which supported the previous reports that curcumin can modulate the lipid bilayer. Though the antiviral mechanism of curcumin on BoHV-1 needs further study, we identified for the first time a component from herb that could inhibit BoHV-1 replication, in vitro.