ACTIVITY OF A METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF ZIMBABWEAN CRINUM-MACOWANII AGAINST EXOTIC RNA VIRUSES IN-VITRO

The in vitro antiviral activity of a freeze-dried methanolic extract o f the bulbs of Zimbabwean Crinum macowanii was determined in Vero cell s infected with a number of exotic RNA viruses. At a concentration of 32 mug/mL, the crude methanolic extract reduced by 100% the viral cyto pathic effect in Vero cells infected with yellow fever virus, and caus ed a 70% inhibition of the viral cytopathic effect in cells infected w ith Japanese encephalitis virus. No evidence of cytotoxicity was obser ved at this concentration. The freeze-dried extract inhibited the repl ication of the above mentioned viruses by 100% at a concentration of 1 0 mug/mL. No cytotoxicity was seen at this concentration.