Assessment of Anti Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Activity in Bidens biternata and Mangifera persiciformis

Abstract

The disease known as herpes, caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV), is a common infection resulting in lesions on the mouth or genitals. At least half of the population of the United States has experienced infection by HSV. There is presently no preventative vaccine for HSV and resistance to acyclovir, the only currently available therapy, is increasing. This signals a need to find other chemotherapeutic agents to use in treatment. This research evaluated extracts from two plants, Bidens biternata and Mangifera persiciformis, both used in traditional Chinese medicine, for potential anti herpes properties in a cell culture system. Both of these plants have shown high anti herpes activity. Bidens biternata showed 6% cytotoxicity from its most active fraction; however, this fraction failed to reliably inhibit HSV. We report an unknown isolated compound from M. persiciformis that has shown nearly 90% virus inhibition with 6% cytotoxicity at 50 μg/mL. This promising compound will be evaluated for structural identification in a future project. ii