A Water Extract of Pueraria Lobata Inhibited Cytotoxicity of Enterovirus 71 in a Human Foreskin Fibroblast Cell Line

Su, Fu-Min; Chang, Jung-San; Wang, Kuo-Chih; Tsai, Jih-Jin; Chiang, Lien-Chai

doi:10.1016/S1607-551X(09)70011-7

« Previous Next »Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences
Volume 24, Issue 10 , Pages 523-530, October 2008

A Water Extract of Pueraria Lobata Inhibited Cytotoxicity of Enterovirus 71 in a Human Foreskin Fibroblast Cell Line

Fu-Min Su
- Department of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Faculty of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Jung-San Chang
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Faculty of Renal Care, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Kuo-Chih Wang
- Graduate Institute of Natural Products, College of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Jih-Jin Tsai
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Lien-Chai Chiang
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Professor Lien-Chai Chiang, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, 100 Shih-Chuan 1^st Road, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan

Received 22 August 2008; accepted 22 October 2008.

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) can cause brain encephalitis and mortality. However, effective vaccines or chemotherapeutic agents are not yet available. We tested the hypothesis that Pueraria lobata could inhibit the cytotoxic effect of EV71 in a human foreskin fibroblast cell line by the XTT method. Our results showed that the water extract of P. lobata could inhibit cytopathy induced by EV71 when given before (p < 0.0001), simultaneously with (p < 0.0001), or after viral infection (p < 0.0001). Water extract of P. lobata was effective and its minimal concentration that inhibited 50% of the cytopathic effect (IC₅₀) was 0.028 μg/mL. P. lobata was also safe with a selectivity index greater than 107,000. Water extract of P. lobata appeared to inhibit viral attachment (p < 0.0001) and penetration (p < 0.0001). The anti-EV71 activity of the water extract of P. lobata was not mediated by interferons. In conclusion, the water extract of P. lobata was effective in the management of the disease induced by EV71 infection.