Antiviral activity of an aqueous extract from the red alga Laurencia obtusa against influenza A and B viruses

Revista Cubana de Medicina Tropical

Morier Díaz, Luis Francisco²  del Barrio Alonso, Gloria¹  Mendoza Llanes, Dianeya²  Piñón Ramos, Alexander²  Torres López, Yuneysi³  Pérez-Riverol, Amilcar⁴ 

[1] Universidad de La Habana, Cuba;Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kourí, La Habana, Cuba;Centro de Bioproductos Marinos, La Habana, Cuba;Universidad Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho, Rio Claro, Brasil

关键词: influenza;    antiviral;    Laurencia obtusa;    natural extracts;    algae;   

DOI  :  

学科分类：传染病学

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

Introduction: antiviral therapy against infections caused by influenza viruses is based on the use of inhibitors of M2 protein and neuraminidase (NA). However, the emergence of seasonal strains resistant to both drug groups has led to the search for new anti-influenza medications. Extracts from algae may be used as a source of compounds, considering the diversity of metabolites described for these organisms. Objective: evaluate the in vitro antiviral activity of an aqueous extract from the red alga Laurencia obtusa against influenza A (H1N1), A (H3N2) and B viruses. Methods:cytotoxicity was evaluated in MDCK cells by cell viability estimation in the presence of growing concentrations of the extract. The effects over viral replication were quantified by determining hemagglutinin (HA) levels and inhibition of the cytopathic effect (CPE). The selective index (SI) was estimated by SI=CC50/CE50. Results:the aqueous extract of Laurencia obtusa showed in vitro antiviral activity against influenza B, A (H3N2) and A (H1N1) viruses with SI values of 7.73, 11.79 and 12.95, respectively.Conclusions: Laurencia obtusa inhibits the replication of influenza viruses, a fact of great clinical importance. Secondary assays to characterize the biological activity and molecular composition of the extract may lead to the development of novel antiviral compounds. The present paper is the first report on the inhibitory activity of this macroalga species against influenza viruses.

【 授权许可】

Unknown