ANTIHERPETIC IN-VITRO ACTIVITY OF GAMOCHAETA-SIMPLICICAULIS EXTRACT

Aqueous extracts of Gamochaeta simplicicaulis present true antiviral a ctivity in vitro against different members of the herpesvirus family ( herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, human cytomegalovirus, bovine herp es virus and lower activity with pseudorabies virus). The extract had no activity against some RNA (naked and enveloped) viruses and adenovi ruses. The extract was not virucidal but its antiviral index (An was h igh enough to justify further analysis. Different experimental approac hes indicate that an early step of viral replication, at least the ads orption period, was involved in the antiviral activity.