Abstract

PEREZ-RIVERO, Amilcar et al. In vitro antiviral activity of aqueous extract from red seaweed Tricleocarpa fragilis to Influenza A virus. Rev Cubana Farm [online]. 2014, vol.48, n.2, pp.316-328. ISSN 0034-7515.

Introduction: influenza viruses are major human pathogens that cause over 500 000 deaths every year. The emergence of viral variants resistant to approved antiviral drugs has prompted the search for new anti-influenza compounds. Alga could be used as a source for the development of new anti-influenza drugs, taking into account the diversity of secondary metabolites previously described in these organisms. Objective: to evaluate the in vitro antiviral activity of aqueous extract of the red seaweed Tricleocarpa fragilis against influenza A virus. Methods: the mean citotoxicity (CC₅₀) concentration of the extract was determined by using the MTT reduction assay in MDCK cells. The mean inhibitory concentration (CI₅₀) was estimated by means of viral protein (hemagglutinin) test and a cytopathic effect inhibition test in MDCK cells. The Selective index was calculated from (SI)= CC₅₀/IC₅₀. Results: T. fragilis was not toxic at the concentrations evaluated in MDCK cells. The aqueous extract inhibited in vitro influenza A(H1N1) and A(H3N2) virus replication with SI values > 11.4 and 106; respectively. Conclusions: aqueous extract of T. fragilis showed in vitro anti-influenza activity and can be employed as a source for new antiviral drugs. This paper was the first report for the antiviral activity of T. fragilis.

Keywords : influenza virus; antiviral; Tricleocarpa fragilis; seaweeds.

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