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Planta Med 1997; 63(5): 429-432
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-957727
Papers
Pharmacology
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Antiviral Activity of Natural Sulphated Galactans on Herpes Virus Multiplication in Cell Culture

María J. Carlucci1 , Luis A. Scolaro1 , María I. Errea2 , María C. Matulewicz2 , Elsa B. Damonte1
  • 1Laboratorio de Virología, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires,Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2,1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • 2Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2,1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Publication History

1996

1997

Publication Date:
04 January 2007 (online)

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Abstract

A sulphated galactan (SG) with low molecular weight (app. 2800) was isolated from extracts of Cryptopleura ramosa, a red seaweed from the South American coasts. The compound was a selective inhibitor of HSV-1 and HSV-2 replication in Vero cells with 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) in the range 1.6-4.2 µg/ml and a 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC50) of 476 µg/ml. SG was also effective against HSV-1 in cells of neural origin such as murine astrocytes. The mode of action of SG could be ascribed to an inhibitory action on virus adsorption. Furthermore, SG did not inhibit the blood coagulation process at concentrations highly exceeding the IC50.

key words

Natural antiviral - herpes simplex virus - sulphated polysaccharide - Cryptopleura ramosa - Delesseriaceae - red seaweed

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