In Vitro Evaluation of Antiviral Activities of Thermopsis turcica and Limonium iconicum

Abstract

The aim of present study was to examine the anti-herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) activity of methanolic and aqueous extracts from Thermopsis turcica and Limonium iconicum growing in Turkey. Both methanol extracts and aqueous extracts were tested by means of the MTT assay (tetrazolium-based colorimetric assay). The EC₅₀ was defined as the concentration required to achieve 50% protection against virus-induced cytopathic effects, and the selectivity index (SI) was determined as the ratio of CC₅₀ (concentration of 50% cellular cytotoxicity) to EC₅₀. According to test results, aqueous extract of T. turcica has only moderate antiherpetic activity (EC₅₀ = 1116.00  µg/mL and SI = 3.13), while methanol extract of L. iconicum has a weak antiherpetic activity (EC₅₀ = 14529.00  µg/mL and SI = 1.31). In contrast, the methanolic extract of T. turcica and aqueous extract of L. iconicum were not possessed anti-HSV activity.

Keywords: Thermopsis turcica, Limonium iconicum, Extracts, Anti-herpes simplex virus type 1 activity