J Pharm Pharmacogn Res 3(suppl. 1): S46, 2015
Proceedings of the 4th International Symposium on Pharmacology of Natural Products FAPRONATURA 2015 September 21st-25th, 2015; Cuban Society of Pharmacology. Topes de Collantes, Sancti Spiritus, Cuba.
Oral Communication
OC-27: VIRUCIDAL ACTION OF AN EXTRACT OF Punica granatum L. ON THE STRUCTURAL PROTEINS OF THE INFLUENZA VIRUS
Peña BR, Duménigo A, Martínez I.
Introduction: An extract prepared with the fruit of Punica granatum L. (grenade) showed a virucidal effect in vitro, against Influenzavirus A strains. The objective of this investigation was to elucidate the anti-influenza mechanism of the grenade extract. Material and Methods: Influenza A strains, subtypes (H3N2) and (H1N1), 8u Hemaglutinating and 100 Embryo Infectious Dose 50 (EID50), concentrated by ultracentrifugation and previously clarified to 10,000 rpm. Subsequently the samples were mixed, volume/volume, with a solution of the extract for a final concentration of 2 mg/mL. Each mixture and its respective controls were incubated during one hour to 25°C and 37°C, respectively. The infective and the hemaglutinating titles of each treatment were determined and an electrophoresis (SDS – PAGE) for total proteins was carried out. The SDS – PAGE were studied by densitometry and the molecular weights to the bands of interest were calculated. Results: Alterations did not take place in the electrophoretic profile of the constituent proteins of the influenzavirus in the treated samples and its controls; this was corroborated through the corresponding densitometry measurements and the data of their estimated molecular weights for the proteins of interest. However, the direct treatment with the extract, modified the biological behavior of the virus, by reducing the infectivity of the virion, expressed in the decrease of two logarithms or more than the EID50 in the treated viral samples. Conclusions: The extract produces a steric impediment in the hemaglutinin of the Influenzavirus, without varying its electrophoretic profile, which explains the confirmed antiviral action.
Citation Format: Peña BR, Duménigo A, Martínez I (2015) Virucidal action of an extract of Punica granatum L. on the structural proteins of the influenza virus. [Abstract]. In: Proceedings of the FAPRONATURA 2015; 2015 Sep 21-25; Topes de Collantes, Sancti Spiritus: CSF. J Pharm Pharmacogn Res 3(Suppl. 1): S46. Abstract nr OC-27.