Studies of Antiviral Activity and Cytotoxicity of Sphaeranthus indicus and Coldenia procumbens

Abstract

The presence of drug-resistant Human Immuno+deficiency Virus (HIV) is a major global concern and warrants the development of novel antivirals as alternative and inexpensive therapy. In the current study, previously unreported antiviral activity of aqueous extracts of two indigenous plants used in Ayurveda in India, such as Sphaeranthus indicus and Coldenia procumbens, against replication of HIV-1 (III B) and HIV-2 (Rod) in MT-4 cells was assigned. These extracts tested were relatively nontoxic to human lymphocytic MT-4 cells; these extracts exhibited anti-HIV activity in an in vitro MTT assay. The aqueous extract of S. indicus inhibited the HIV-1 replication at IC₅₀ of 52.35 µg/ml, whereas this extract does not inhibit the HIV-2 replication in MT-4 cells. No cytotoxicity was observed at 125 µg/ml. The maximum inhibition of this extract is 110.5%. The aqueous extract of C. procumbens inhibited both HIV-1 and HIV-2 replication at comparable IC₅₀ values, namely 32.10 and 41.60, respectively. No cytotoxicity was observed at 125 µg/ml. The maximum inhibition of this extract in HIV-1 replication is 141% and HIV-2 replication is 114.5%. The above results showed that aqueous extract of C. procumbens had more potent anti-HIV activity than S. indicus. In this study, the aqueous extracts of S. indicus and C. procumbens showed antiviral properties that may be useful in the treatment of patients with AIDS.

Keywords: Anti-HIV activity, aqueous extracts, Sphaeranthus indicus, Coldenia procumbens

Cite this Article

Venkatachalam D, Kumar SKP, Middha A. Studies of Antiviral Activity and Cytotoxicity of Sphaeranthus indicus and Coldenia procumbens. Research & Reviews: A Journal of Pharmacognosy. 2018; 5(2): 15–20p.