Antiviral Effect Assay of Aqueous Extract of Echium Amoenum-L against HSV-1

Background: Medicinal plants have been used for different diseases in past. There is an
increasing need for substances with antiviral activity since the treatment of viral infections
with the available antiviral drugs often leads to the problem of viral resistance. Therefore
in the present study Echium amoenum L plant with ethnomedical background was
screened for antiviral activity against HSV-1 in different times.
Materials and Methods: Flower part of Echium amoenum L plant collected from Iran was
extracted with different methods to obtain crude aqueous extract. This extract was
screened for its cytotoxicity against Hep II cell line by CPE assay. Antiviral properties of
the plant extract were determined by cytopathic effect inhibition assay.
Results: Echium amoenum L extract exhibited significant antiviral activity at non toxic
concentrations to the cell line used. Findings indicated that plant extract has the most
antiviral activity when it used an hour after virus inoculation.
Conclusion: Echium amoenum L plant had not toxic effect at highest concentrations to the
cell lines used and showed the most antiviral activity when it used an hour after virus
inoculation. Further research is needed to elucidate the active constituents of this plant
which may be useful in the development of new and effective antiviral agents.