IN-VITRO ANTIINFLUENZA VIRUS ACTIVITY OF A PLANT PREPARATION FROM GERANIUM-SANGUINEUM L

A polyphenolic complex (PC), isolated from the Bulgarian medicinal pla nt Geranium sanguineum L., was shown to have selective anti-influenza activity in vitro. Expression of HA on the surface of cells infected w ith A/chicken/Rostock/34, virus-induced cytopathic effect, infectious virus yield and plaque formation were all reduced at non-toxic concent rations of PC. Synthesis of virus proteins was also selectively inhibi ted. High concentrations of PC (> 200 mu g/ml) exhibited a strong viru cidal effect. Although the action was directed against an early stage of infection (within 3 h of infection), the process directly affected was not identified. The selectivity of antiviral action was confirmed by the variation in sensitivity of different influenza viruses to PC a nd the selection of variants with reduced drug sensitivity. (C) 1998 E lsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.