IN-VITRO ACTIVITY OF EXTRACTS OF PERSEA-AMERICANA LEAVES ON ACYCLOVIR-RESISTANT AND PHOSPHONOACETIC RESISTANT HERPES-SIMPLEX VIRUS

The lyophilized aqueous crude extract (LACE) from leaves of Persea ame ricana (Lauraceae) species showed a strong inhibitory effect on acyclo vir (ACG(r)4 and dlsp TK mutants) and PAA-resistant (PAA(r)5 mutant) h erpes simplex virus. After exhaustive washing of LACE using methanol, the soluble fraction was chromatographed on a reverse-phase column giv ing 11 fractions that were revealed by thin-layer chromatography. Anal ysis of the anti-al effect of the fractions showed the extract contain ed compounds that were able to inhibit extracellular virus and the rep lication of resistant acyclovir HSV. The virucidal effect was concentr ated from fraction 4 up to 8. Fraction 7 mainly contains the flavonoid isoquercitrin, and fraction 8 the flavonoid quercitrin. The flavonoid afzelin that is the major substance present in the fraction 9 showed virustatic effect with no virucidal effect. These results show P. amer icana is a potential plant extract for treatment of herpes simplex vir us infections either alone or associated with acyclovir.