Planta Med 2006; 72(15): 1378-1382
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-951719
Original Paper
Pharmacology
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Antiviral Effect of Aqueous Extracts from Species of the Lamiaceae Family against Herpes simplex Virus Type 1 and Type 2 in vitro

Silke Nolkemper1 , 2 , Jürgen Reichling1 , Florian C. Stintzing3 , Reinhold Carle3 , Paul Schnitzler2
  • 1Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Department of Biology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
  • 2Hygiene Institute, Department of Virology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
  • 3Institute for Food Technology, Hohenheim University, Stuttgart, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

Received: April 3, 2006

Accepted: August 21, 2006

Publication Date:
07 November 2006 (online)

Abstract

Aqueous extracts from species of the Lamiaceae family were examined for their antiviral activity against Herpes simplex virus (HSV). Extracts from lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), peppermint (Mentha x piperita), prunella (Prunella vulgaris), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), sage (Salvia officinalis) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris) were screened. Their inhibitory activity against Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), type 2 (HSV-2) and an acyclovir-resistant strain of HSV-1 (ACVres) was tested in vitro on RC-37 cells in a plaque reduction assay. The 50 % inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of the extracts for HSV plaque formation were determined in dose-response studies. All test compounds showed a high antiviral activity against HSV-1, HSV-2 and ACVres. In order to identify the mode of antiviral action, the extracts were added to the cells or viruses at different stages of infection. Both types of Herpes virus including ACVres were considerably neutralized after treatment with the extracts prior to infection. At maximum non-cytotoxic concentrations of the extracts, plaque formation was significantly reduced by > 90 % for HSV-1 and HSV-2 and > 85 % for ACVres. In time-response studies over a period of 2 hours, a clearly time-dependent activity was demonstrated. These results indicate that the extracts affect HSV before adsorption, but have no effect on the intracellular virus replication. Therefore, the extracts exert their antiviral effect on free HSV and offer a chance to use them for topical therapeutic application against recurrent Herpes infections.

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Dr. Paul Schnitzler, PD

Hygiene Institute

Department of Virology

University of Heidelberg

Im Neuenheimer Feld 324

69120 Heidelberg

Germany

Phone: +49-6221-56-5016

Fax: +49-6221-56-5003

Email: Paul_Schnitzler@med.uni-heidelberg.de