INVESTIGATIONS ON ANTIVIRAL ACTION OF HAEMANTHUS-ALBIFLOS NATURAL EXTRACT

Investigations were undertaken on the antiviral action of an hydroalco holic extract from Haemanthus albiflos bulb, reported here as an effic ient agent against RNA viruses. Poliovirus propagated on HeLa cells wi th different concentrations of the extract was used in the assays. The effect on cellular RNA, DNA and protein synthesis as well as on viral RNA synthesis was evaluated by measuring the radioactivity incorporat ed using labelled precursors. A 0.2 muL/mL concentration of the plant extract showed an inhibition of cellular RNA, DNA and protein synthesi s compared with the control of 44%, 40% and 52%, respectively. At the same concentration a 90% decrease of the viral RNA synthesis was obser ved over 210 min.