Many
adults
have
been
exposed
to
Herpes
Simplex
Virus
Type
1
(HSV-‐1),
which
manifests
as
a
painful
cold
sore.
Currently,
Acyclovir
is
the
most
commonly
used
drug
to
reduce
the
number
and
severity
of
HSV-‐1
outbreaks.
The
purpose
of
this
research
is
to
isolate
an
anti-‐viral
compound
from
plant
material
that
will
treat
HSV-‐1.
Snapdragon
(A.
majus)
was
selected
for
extractions
due
to
the
anti-‐viral
activity
found
in
its
crude
plant
material.
Detailed
bioassay
guided
fractionation
of
A.
majus
plant
material
resulted
in
identification
of
a
compound
called
apigenin.
Although
apigenin
is
a
common
flavonoid
with
documented
anti-‐viral
activity,
it
has
not
been
reported
previously
in
A.
majus.
A
published
comparison
of
EC50
values
for
apigenin
and
Acyclovir
indicates
that
apigenin
could
potentially
be
a
replacement
drug
for
the
treatment
of
herpes
simplex
viruses
in
Acyclovir-‐resistant
patients