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Anti-Herpes Simplex Viruses activity of Camellia sinensis, member of the family Theaceae (green tea)

Background

Medicinal plants were shown to possess several bioactivities of which Camellia sinensis, a popularly used refreshing beverage has been reported to have immune modulating and anti viral activities. From our lab we had already shown that C. sinensis extracts possessed anti-HIV and anti-HBV activities. In the current study we evaluated its anti-HSV activities.

Methods

Aqueous and methanolic extracts of C. sinensis were tested for their anti-HSV property by CPE reduction assay on Vero cell monolayers. Cytotoxicity of the extract was measured by MTT assay.

Results

Experiments showed that 12 µg/mL concentration of C. sinensis completely inhibited HSV-1 and 2 and the drug was found to be non toxic up to 10 mg/mL.

Conclusion

The study showed that C.sinesis extracts and EGCG compound are potent inhibitor of both HSV-1 and HSV-2 infection and it was found to be relatively non toxic.

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Correspondence to Elanchezhiyan Manickan.

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Deepika, G., Durgadevi, H., Narayan, R. et al. Anti-Herpes Simplex Viruses activity of Camellia sinensis, member of the family Theaceae (green tea). BMC Infect Dis 14 (Suppl 3), P47 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2334-14-S3-P47

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2334-14-S3-P47

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