Home – Home – Jornals – Chemistry for Sustainable Development 2021 number 6

Antiviral activity of extracts from 14 plant species of 12 genera of 9 botanical families in the transplanted culture of MDCK cells against influenza virus A/Aichi/2/68 (H3N2) (human) and A/chicken/Kurgan/05/2005 (H5N1) (birds) was investigated. Phytochemical characterisation of vegetal raw materials of these species for the content of certain groups of polyphenolic and terpenoid compounds was carried out. The effect of plant extracts on the influenza virus of each subtype was assessed relying on the value of the neutralization index. It was found that aqueous and ethanol extracts of the studied plant species exhibit different extents of activity against each of the influenza virus subtypes: from minimum to almost 100 % of virus-inhibiting values. Complete (100 %) inhibition, selectively for each of the two influenza virus subtypes, was found in the extracts of 6 plant species: three Persicaria species ( P. scabra, P. lapathifolia, P. hydropiper ), Comarum salesovianum (leaves and flowers), Dasiphora fruticosa and Hedysarum alpinum . They can be considered promising for further studies of antiviral activity against the human and bird influenza virus. A phytochemical assessment of the plant raw materials of the studied species showed that maximum amounts of flavonols (6.42 %), catechins (1.76 %), tannins (28.46 %) and carotenoids (70.4 %) were found in the raw materials of different plant species, extracts of which showed selective influenza activity of varying extent. Promising species can be recommended for more in-depth study, as basic, in order to develop phytopreparations of anti-influenza action against RNA-genomic viruses - human and bird influenza virus. At the same time, it is necessary to take into account the taxonomic position of the species, the type of extraction, as well as the part or organ of the plant taken for study.