ANTIVIRAL TRADITIONAL MEDICINES AGAINST HERPES-SIMPLEX VIRUS (HSV-1),POLIOVIRUS, AND MEASLES-VIRUS IN-VITRO AND THEIR THERAPEUTIC EFFICACIES FOR HSV-1 INFECTION IN MICE

One hundred forty-two kinds of traditional medicines, which have been historically used in China, Indonesia, and Japan, were examined for th e antiviral activity of their hot water (HW) extracts against herpes s implex virus type 1 (HSV-l), poliovirus type 1, and measles virus by p laque reduction assay. Thirty-two, 55, and 30 HW-extracts of them show ed anti-HSV-1, antipoliovirus, and anti-measles virus activities, resp ectively. Among the 32 HW-extracts with anti-HSV-l activity, 3 HW-extr acts had anti-HSV-l activity alone and the others showed anti-HSV-1 ac tivity with anti-poliovirus and/or antimeasles virus activities. The 3 2 HW-extracts were further examined for their therapeutic efficacies o f HSV-1 infection in mice. The mice were infected cutaneously with HSV -l and HW-extracts were orally administered three times daily. Twelve HW-extracts, currently used for the treatment of various diseases othe r than viral infection, were found to be significantly effective in li miting the development of skin lesions and/or in prolonging the mean s urvival times of HSV-I-infected mice. These results suggested that 12 of 142 HW-extracts that exhibited therapeutic efficacy in an animal in fection model were possible candidates for anti-HSV-1 traditional medi cine.