Evaluation of anti-HSV-2 activities of Barleria lupulina and Clinacanthus nutans

Barleria lupulina Lindl, and Clinacanthus nutans (Burm. f.) Lindau, both be longing to the family Acantaceae, are well-known medicinal plants used in T hai folklore medicine. Virucidal effects of organic extracts of these two p lants against herpes simplex virus type 2 strain G, HSV-2 (G), the standard HSV-2 strain were noted. The extracts were assessed for intracellular acti vities against HSV-2 (G) and five clinical HSV-2 isolates. B. lupulina extr act exhibited activity against all five isolates but not the standard strai n while that of C. nutans did not show any activity against these viruses a s determined by plaque inhibition assay. When the activities were verified by yield reduction assay, anti-HSV-2 activities of B. lupulina extract were observed against HSV-2 (G) as well. The results suggest a therapeutic pote ntial of B. lupulina but not C. nutans against HSV-2, (C) 1999 Elsevier Sci ence Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.