Erschienen in:
01.08.2012 | Original Article
In vitro and in vivo evaluation of a novel antiherpetic flavonoid, 4′-phenylflavone, and its synergistic actions with acyclovir
verfasst von:
Kyoko Hayashi, Munekazu Iinuma, Kohei Sasaki, Toshimitsu Hayashi
Erschienen in:
Archives of Virology
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Ausgabe 8/2012
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Abstract
The development of therapeutic agents for preventing herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections has become urgently necessary because of the increasing incidence of this virus and its role as a cofactor in the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus infection. We have evaluated the antiviral activities of a series of natural and synthetic flavonoids and found that a synthetic flavonoid, 4′-phenylflavone, showed the highest activity against acyclovir (ACV)-sensitive and ACV-resistant strains of HSV-1, as well as HSV-2, with a selectivity index of 213, 35 and 55, respectively. Although the attachment and penetration of HSV-1 to host cells and the synthesis of viral proteins were not inhibited, the infectivity of the virus and the amount of progeny virus released were reduced by 4′-phenylflavone treatment in a dose-dependent manner. 4′-Phenylflavone plus ACV synergistically inhibited the replication of HSV-1. This flavonoid also showed efficacy in vivo and potentiated the antiherpetic effect of ACV in a mouse model of genital herpes. Our results suggest that 4′-phenylflavone might be useful as a candidate for the development of novel antiherpetic therapeutics.