Antiviral Activity of Pistacia atlantica subsp. Kurdica Extract Against Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1: Antiviral Activity of Pistacia atlantica subsp.

Authors

Shahin Gavanji Department of Biotechnology, University of Isfahan Faculty of Advanced Sciences and Technologies, Isfahan, Iran
Hojjat Baghshahi Barij Medicinal Plants Research Center, Kashan, Iran
Azizollah Bakhtari Department of Reproductive Biology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz, Iran
Ali Mohamadi Institute of Traditional Medicine and Herbal Plants of Iran, Isfahan, Iran
Zahra Hamami Chamgordani Department of Adult Health Nursing, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan, Iran
Mojtaba Khandan Barij Medicinal Plants Research Center, Kashan, Iran
Javaher Sinaei Institute of Traditional Medicine and Herbal Plants of Iran, Isfahan, Iran

Keywords:

Antiviral, herbal medicine, pistachio, tradition medicin, VERO

Abstract

Objective: Most research on the therapeutic effects of wild pistachio species has focused on bacteria and fungi. This study investigated the flavonoid and phenolic contents of different leaves and hulls of Pistacia atlantica (P. atlantica) subsp. Kurdica (P. atlantica subsp. Kurdica) extracts and their effect on herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1).
Methods: In this study, aqueous, ethanolic, and methanolic extracts of the leaf and hull of P. atlantica subsp. Kurdica were prepared by the percolation method. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents in different extracts were measured by UV/Vis spectrophotometry using the Folin-Ciocâlteu reagent and the colorimetric method of aluminum chloride, respectively. On African green monkey kidney cells (VERO), the ethanolic extract of P. atlantica subsp. Kurdica was tested for toxicity. Furthermore, 50% cytotoxic and inhibitory concentrations (CC50 and IC50) were identified.
Results: Compared with aqueous and methanolic extracts, the ethanolic extract of the leaf and hull of P. atlantica subsp. Kurdica had the highest phenolic and flavonoid concentrations. In addition, our study showed that CC50 values were 661.81 and 795.21 μg/mL. Also, IC50 values were 97.51 and 110.82 μg/mL for leaf and hull extracts, respectively. The selectivity index for the ethanolic leaf and hull extracts were 6.79 and 7.18, respectively.
Conclusion: Our results showed that P. atlantica subsp. Kurdica had an anti-HSV1 effect in a dose-dependent manner but at a higher dose than acyclovir. Ethanolic extract of P. atlantica subsp. Kurdica is probably a suitable herbal medicine with anti-herpetic effects.

Antiviral Activity of Pistacia atlantica subsp. Kurdica Extract Against Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1