Antiviral Activity of Aloe hijazensis against Some Haemagglutinating Viruses Infection and its Phytoconstituents

On our ongoing for investigating the bioactive compounds of A. hijazensis Lavranos & Collen. (Abd-Alla et al., 2009), one of 24 species of Aloe in Saudi Arabia (Collenette, 1999); the flowers and flower-peduncles were selected for the present study. Thirteen compounds were isolated from both flowers and flower-peduncles. The isolated compounds were classified into; five hydroxyquinones; ziganein, Ziganein 5-methyl ether, aloesaponarin I, chrysophanol, aloe-emodin, one dihydroisocoumarin; feralolide, four flavonoids; homoplantaginin, isoorientin, luteolin 7-glucuronopyranoside, isovitexin, one phenolic acid; p-coumaric acid, the anthrone; aloin together with aloenin. Eleven compounds were attributed to the flowers and seven to the flower-peduncles. Homoplantaginin and luteolin 7- glucuronopyranoside are reported here for the first time from Aloe spp. Evaluation of the antiviral activities of flowers, flower-peduncles, leaves, and roots of A. hijazensis against haemagglutinating viruses of avian paramyxovirus type-1, influenza virus type A, Newcastle disease virus, and group III adenovirus; egg-drop syndrome virus in specific pathogen free chicken embryos were carried out. In general, the flowers and leaves showed the highest antiviral effect. This is the first report on the isolation of phytoconstituents from this plant parts and also the first time for its biological evaluation.

Keywords: Aloe hijazensis, Phytochemical Constituents, Haemagglutinating Viruses

Acknowledgement: Department of Botany, King Abdul-Aziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Dr. Farag Abd-Allah Elghamdi.

References: 1. Abd-Alla HI et al. (2009) Nat Prod Res 23: 1035–1049.

2. Collenette S (1999) Wild Flowers of Saudi Arabia. National Commission for Wild Life Conservation and Development. Riyadh.