ANTIVIRAL EFFECT OF HERBS EXTRACTS IN EXP ERIMENTAL TICK-BORNE ENCEPHALITIS

Some mechanisms of inducing resistance to experimental infection with tick-borne encephalitis virus were studied in experimental mice treate d with aqueous extracts of berries of Vaccinium vitis-idaea, black cur rant, Vaccinium myrtillus, and of greater celandine grass. The conditi on of -the immune system organs (spleen and thymus) after treatment wi th the extracts under study was analysed. A correlation was found betw een the degree of developing resistance to infection, virus accumulati on in the brain, blood, spleen and thymus and changes in some paramete rs (spleen and thymus indices) of these immunocompetent organs. Possib le mechanisms of induction of resistance to virus by herb extracts are discussed.