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. 2014 Jul-Sep;34(1):33–38. doi: 10.4103/0257-7941.150777

In vitro evaluation of anti-herpes simplex-1 activity of three standardized medicinal plants from Lamiaceae

Mehdi Ansari 1, Fariba Sharififar 1,✉, Ali Mohammad Arabzadeh 2, Firoozeh Mehni 1, Manosur Mirtadzadini 3, Zahra Iranmanesh 2, Najmeh Nikpour 2
PMCID: PMC4342647  PMID: 25737608

Abstract

Background:

Rosmarinic acid (RA) is a phenolic acid with antioxidant and anti-viral effects. We have studied anti-herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) effect of three medicinal plants from Lamiaceae family which have been standardized on the basis of RA content.

Materials and Methods:

Methanolic extract of Teucrium polium, Ziziphora clinopoides, and Salvia rhytidea was prepared by maceration method and RA content of the plants was determined using a spectrophotometric method. Maximum nontoxic concentration (MNTC) of the extracts was determined using neutral red method. Serial dilutions of extracts up to MNTC were examined on Vero cells for anti-HSV-1 effect by plaque assay in comparison to acyclovir as a positive control.

Results:

Among the tested extracts, T. polium contained the highest percentage of RA (1.8%w/w) and exhibited the least toxicity (MNTC = 1000 μg/ml). The greatest anti-HSV-1 was shown by T. polium and Z. clinopoides extracts which exhibited both time and concentration-dependent plaque inhibition.

Conclusion:

Considering the low toxicity and significant anti-viral effect of T. polium extract, this plant would prove valuable as an active anti-viral drug.

KEY WORDS: Herpes simplex-1, plaque inhibition, rosmarinic acid, Salvia rhytidea, Teucrium polium, Ziziphora clinopoides

INTRODUCTION

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is an enveloped pathogen from Herpesviridae family which causes a broad range of infections in humans. HSV type 1 (HSV-1) is involved in a variety of lesions in the oral cavity, mucous membrane, eyes, and pharynx and is manifested especially in immunodeficient patients.[1] This virus is DNA viruse which is distinguished by serological and molecular methods. Infection with HSV-1 is recurrent, and it may persist beyond treatment. Patients who use the current licensed drugs for the HSV infections often experience severe side effects and prevalence resistance.[2] This has led to a quest for new therapeutic agents with different mechanisms. Previous studies have exhibited anti-herpetic effect of several medicinal plants and their secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, anthraquinones, essential oils, and phenolic compounds.[3,4]

On the other hand, rosmarinic acid (RA) is a natural phenol with beneficial and health-promoting effects such as antibacterial, antiallergic, antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic, and anti-HIV-1 effects.[5,6,7,8] This compound is widely distributed among Lamiaceae plants especially in Nepetoidae subfamily.[9]

In the present study, methanolic extracts of three medicinal plants of Teucrium polium L., Ziziphora clinopoides Lam. and Salvia rhytidea Benth from Lamiaceae family were subjected to anti-HSV-1 effect and their RA content was determined by spectrophotometric method. These plants have been widely used in treating the common cold and especially for respiratory diseases in folk medicine.

Teucrium polium L. is one of the wild-growing flowering plants which is abundantly found in Iran. This plant possesses different properties such as antioxidant, anti-hyperglycemic, and hypolipidemic effects.[10,11,12] T. polium has been used for over 2000 years in traditional medicine systems. In the Palestinian territories is used in the treatment of liver disease, diabetes, and cancer.[13] This plant is recommended for the treatment of liver disorders in Ayurveda and Chinese traditional medicine.[14] In Iranian traditional medicine, T. polium has been used for its antidiabetic and antidiarrheal effects. This plant is widely used in many countries of Middle East and Turkey for treatment of diabetes, high blood pressure, and gastrointestinal ailments.[15]

Ziziphora clinopoides Lam. is widely distributed in Iran and has been used in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. Different biological effects such as antibacterial, antioxidant, and antinociceptive effects have been reported for this plant.[9,16] Z. clinopoides is a traditional Uyghur medicinal plant which is used mainly in the treatment of high blood pressure, edema, cough, bronchitis, and lung abscess.[17] In Ayurveda, a combination of Ziziphora with the other plants has been used as emenagogue and for relief of menstruation pain.[18] This traditional Uyghur medicinal plant exhibited high cytotoxic effect on gastric adenocarcinoma cell line of those under investigation. Some of Ziziphora species are used in Turkey for their aperitif, carminative, and antiseptic effect.[19]

Salvia rhytidea Benth. has been used as an antidiabetic agent in folk medicine. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of this plant extract on alpha-glucosidase was previously investigated by the current authors.[20] The genus Salvia (sage) comprises 24 species which have been used in different traditional systems and Europe for centuries as a spice and medicine. The dried root of Salvia miltiorrhiza is used in Chinese medicine to treat vascular disease. According to Chinese medicine theory, this plant promotes blood flow and resolves blood stasis.[21]

Anti-herpetic effect of several species of Salvia has been studied previously. This genus is widely used in Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine for different purposes. Furthermore, in a study conducted on humans, a combination of sage leaf with the other plant extracts was found to reduce skin side effects associated with herpes.[22] Pretreatment of host cells with ethanolic extracts of S. officinalis prior to virus infection revealed a strong reduction of HSV-2 plaque formation.[1] Recently, anti-viral effects of Zataria multiflora and Zhumeria majdaei have been also studied.[23,24] To the best of our knowledge and according to a survey of the literature, there is no report on the anti-HSV-1 effect of T. polium, Z. clinopoides and S. rhytidea in the literature and it is for the 1st time that anti-herpetic effect of a standard extract of these plants has been studied.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Plant materials

The plants were collected from different regions of Kerman province, Iran in July, 2011. For future reference, a voucher specimen of the plants was deposited at Herbarium Center of Faculty of Pharmacy, Kerman, Iran. Characteristics of the plants are given in Table 1. Medicinal parts (commonly used parts of each plant in phytotherapy) of the plants were separately extracted by maceration method using methanol (80%) for 72 h. At first, about 100 g of the each plant was macerated with enough methanol 80% (about 300 ml). After 24 h, the extract was removed using Whatman filter paper No. 1 (Whatman Ltd., England) and the same volume of solvent was added to marc again and macerated for another 24 h. This process was repeated for 72 h, and the whole filtrates were mixed completely and were concentrated under vacuum and finally dried in an oven at 40°C. The dried extracts were stored at −20°C for further experiments.

Table 1.

Characteristics and results of determination of rosmarinic acid content of studied plants

graphic file with name ASL-34-33-g001.jpg

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Chemicals

Standard RA was prepared from Fluka. Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM), fetal calf serum (FCS), penicillin, and streptomycin were purchased from Sigma. Neutral red and the other compounds were prepared from Merck, and acyclovir was prepared from Farabi Co., Iran.

Spectrophotometric determination of rosmarinic acid content of the plant extracts

Standard solutions and calibration curves of rosmarinic acid

Simple and derivative spectrophotometric method for determination of RA in simple solutions and solutions prepared from the extracts were developed and validated. For this, 10 mg of standard RA was accurately weighed and dissolved in methanol (80%) in a 100 ml calibration flask to give a 100 μg/ml stock solution. Serial dilutions were prepared from stock solution and absorbance spectra of the RA were recorded in a wavelength range between 200 and 400 nm using a ultraviolet (UV) – visible spectrophotometer (Lambda 25, Perkin Elmer, USA). At λmax of 328 nm, absorbance of different dilutions (2, 5, 10, 15, and 20 μg/ml) of RA was measured. The calibration curve of standard solutions was constructed by plotting RA concentration versus absorbance at 328 nm. The experiment was repeated 3 times on different days, and the mean of the absorbances was used to draw a suitable standard curve. Percent of relative standard deviation% and error were calculated as a measure of precision and accuracy of the method, respectively. In addition, a third derivative spectrophotometric (Δλ =5 nm) method using amplitude of standard solutions at λ =349.9 nm was used to construct a calibration curve for determining RA in the extracts. This method was used to help avoid interferences of the accompanying constituents present in the extracts. As far as we know, there is no report regarding the determination of RA in the extract by derivative spectrophotometry to resolve the main peak from interfering peaks.

Analysis of the extracts

A stock solution of each extract was prepared by dissolving 100 mg of each completely dried extract in 100 ml methanol and then filtered using Whatman filter paper No. 1. The volume of 10 ml of each sample was diluted to 100 ml using methanol, UV spectrum was recorded, third derivative spectrum at Δλ =5 nm was calculated by UV-Winlab software and the amplitude was measured at 349.9 nm. RA content of the extracts was estimated using the calibration curve equation and amplitude of each extract preparation at 349.9 nm. Each experiment was repeated 3 times, and the results were reported as mean ± standard deviation.

Anti-herpes simplex virus-1 experiments

Cell culture

A Vero cell from African monkey's kidney cells was purchased from National Cell Bank of Pasteur Institute of Iran (Tehran, Iran). The cells were maintained in DMEM medium supplemented with 5% (v/v) FCS, 100 units/ml penicillin and 100 μg/ml streptomycin at 37°C in a CO2 incubator (5% CO2 and 95% relative humidity).[25]

Viruses

The research center of virology (Tehran University of Medical Sciences) prepared the strain of HSV-1st rain KOS which was isolated from the infected cells and stored at −80°C. Infectivity titers were determined by monoclonal antibodies. Determination of TCID50 (concentration of virus suspension which infects 50% of cells) was used for virus titration.

Cytotoxicity assay

Neutral red method was used for evaluating cytotoxicity of the extracts. Neutral red is a dye for staining living cells. Viable cells will take up the dye and incorporate it into the lysosomes. Uptake and accumulation of neutral red have a linear correlation with the number of viable cells.[26] The cells were seeded into 24-well plates. The medium was removed after 24 h of incubation at 37°C and then 100 ml of fresh DMEM containing different dilutions of the sterile extracts (5, 10, 50, 100, 250, 500, 1000, and 1250 μg/ml were added and incubated again. After 48 h, the extracts were aspirated, and 0.2 ml of the neutral red solution (40 μg/ml) was added to wells and incubated for 1 h at 37°C. After removing the neutral red, rinsing with 0.5 ml acetic acid buffer and shaking for 15 min, absorbance was measured at 550 nm.[27] The control wells contained extract free medium. Mean absorbance of the cell control wells was assigned 100% viability. Maximum nontoxic concentration (MNTC) of the plants was determined as the concentration of a plant which had no toxicity on viable cell number (100% viability).

Plaque inhibition assay

Potency of the tested plants for anti-HSV-1 effect was evaluated by plaque inhibition assay. Briefly, cell monolayers were infected with HSV-1 (2 × 105 PFU/cell) and incubated at room temperature. The plant extracts were added to wells in different dilutions (at least 5 dilutions less than MNTC). After 48 h of incubation at 37°C, the medium was aspirated and rinsed with sterile phosphate buffer saline (PBS). Then, 500 μl of methanol was added to each well and after 15 min, was re-aspirated and rinsed with PBS and fixed with formalin (10% v/v). The microwells were stained with 200 μl of crystal violet (1%) and were re-rinsed with PBS after 30–45 min. Subsequently, the plates were observed under microscope for plaque counting.[28] In all the experiments, untreated virus-infected cells were used as control. Percent of plaque reduction was calculated relative to the amount of plaque formation in the absence of the tested compounds (the extracts were dissolved in a medium).

Time-dependent anti-viral effect

In order to study a possible time-dependent anti-viral effect, culture media in different wells containing cell monolayers were replaced with plant extracts just after viral infection (h0), 1 h (h1), 2 h (h2), and 3 h (h3) after viral infection. After 72 h of incubation of the monolayer at 37°C and fixation by formalin (10% v/v), the cells were stained with crystal violet (1%) and the plaques were counted.[28] Acyclovir was used as a positive control. These experiments were repeated 3 times on various days and the untreated virus-infected cells as well as medium treated viruses were used as control.

RESULTS

Characteristics of the plants

Characteristics of the tested plants are given in Table 1. The highest percentage of extraction yields was with T. polium (30.1% g extract/100 g dried plant).

Rosmarinic acid content of plant extracts

The results indicated that all the three tested plants contained considerable percentage (1.4–1.8%) of RA. Among the analyzed plants, the highest percentage of RA (1.8%) was found in T. polium [Table 1].

Cytotoxicity of plant extracts

For determining MNTC of plant extracts for anti-viral evaluation, each sterile extract was dissolved in a medium and added to wells in different dilutions. In neutral red method, MNTC was determined as the maximum concentration, the absorbance of which was equal to the control (100% viability). As shown in Table 1, the highest toxicity was shown by S. rhytidea (MNTC = 100 μg/ml). Z. clinopoides and T. polium exhibited least toxicity (MNTC = 250 and 1000 μg/ml, respectively) [Table 1]. MNTC value for acyclovir was 500 μg/ml.

Inhibiting plaque formation

The viruses were treated with plant extracts in different dilutions up to MNTC. The present results showed that all these three tested plants could inhibit plaque formation by HSV-1 in a concentration-dependent manner. The results are presented as the percentage of plaque inhibition as mean values from three independent experiments. T. polium extract exhibited 100% plaque inhibition at concentration of 500 μg/ml up to MNTC while the inhibition shown by Z. clinopoides extract was 100% at 100 and 250 μg/ml [Figure 1]. Acyclovir exhibited 100% plaque inhibition at 100, 250, and 500 μg/ml (MNTC) and 96.7% inhibition at 50 μg/ml (data not shown).

Figure 1.

Figure 1

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Plaque inhibitory effect of the extracts of Teucrium polium, Ziziphora clinopoides, and Salvia rhytidea against herpes simplex virus-1. In different concentrations up to maximum nontoxic concentra-tion. Each experiment was repeated in triplicate, and the results were reported as mean ± standard deviation

Time-dependent inhibition

Extracts of T. polium and Z. clinopoides could completely inhibit plaque formation at MNTC after a period of 1 h, 2 h, and 3 h after cell infection. A clearly time-dependent activity was exhibited after different periods of cell infection. Extract of T. polium could completely inhibit plaque formation at period of 2 and 3 h after cell infection at concentrations of 50 μg/ml up to MNTC [Figure 2].

Figure 2.

Figure 2

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Time-dependent activity of Teucrium polium extract against herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1). HSV-1 was incubated with different nontoxic concentrations of T. polium extract for different amounts of time. Each experiment was repeated in triplicate, and the results were reported as mean ± standard deviation

This extract exhibited 93.1% inhibition at 50 μg/ml 1 h after cell infection while 100% inhibition was shown at 100 and 250 μg/ml after 1 h of incubation. Extract of Z. clinopoides was active at all the tested concentrations (5, 10, 50, 100, and 250 μg/ml) 1 and 2 h after infection and exhibited 100% inhibition at concentrations of 100 and 250 μg/ml 1 h after infection [Figure 3]. The inhibition shown by S. rhytidea extract was at the greatest level 3 h after cell infection. This plant exhibited 80.3% inhibition at MNTC at different times after infection (data not shown).

Figure 3.

Figure 3

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Time-dependent activity of Ziziphora clinopoides extract against herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1). HSV-1 was incubated with different nontoxic concentrations of Z. clinopoides extract for different amounts of time. Each experiment was repeated in triplicate, and the results were reported as mean ± standard deviation

DISCUSSION

In the present work, three medicinal plants from Lamiaceae family were selected and standardized in terms of RA content. The results obtained show that among the tested plants, the highest percentage of RA was found in T. polium extract (1.8%). Content of RA was determined as 1.50% and 1.40% in Z. clinopoides and S. rhytidea, respectively [Table 1]. In a similar study, the RA content of some medicinal plants from Lamiaceae family has been reported. Similarly, high RA contents were found in different Mentha species (19.3–58.5 mg/g).[29] The rosemary growing in Iran contains a relative low RA concentration (7.2 mg/g). The plants of Thymus pubescens, S. choloroleuca, and Z. multiflora contained no RA. In the other words, several investigations have been carried out in order to find new RA resources among plants.[29] Achamlale et al., showed that RA contents in Zostera noltii and Z. marina samples varied from 2.2–18.0 mg/g to 1.3–11.2 mg/g, respectively. They believed that the high RA content of these two sea-grasses is of interest for both cosmetic and herbal industries. Similar study has been performed on Melissa officinalis during different harvesting time. It has been shown that M. officinalis contained 39.1 mg/g of RA during full flowering stage.[30]

The cytotoxicity of T. polium, Z. clinopoides, and S. rhytidea has been studied in the present work by neutral red assay. Results of toxicity of plant extracts on Vero cells indicated that among the tested plants, the least and greatest toxicity were found in T. polium and S. rhytidea with MNTC values of 1000 and 100 μg/ml, respectively. Z. clinopoides showed relative moderate toxicity (MNTC, 500 μg/ml). This method is simple and accurate and has been used for several plant extracts and/or essential oils. For example, peppermint oil in neutral red assay caused no cell death up to 0.01% concentration.[2] The cytotoxicity of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Salvia was determined by method of neutral red which quantifies the cells remaining viable after exposure to extract.[1] This assay was also used for discrimination between anti-viral and cytotoxicity concentrations of some of the essential oils such as anise oil, hyssop oil, thyme oil, ginger oil, chamomile oil, and sandalwood oil.[27]

A 100% plaque inhibition occurred at concentrations of 500 and 1000 μg/ml of T. polium extract while 96.9% and 90.0% inhibition were induced at concentrations of 250 and 100 μg/ml, respectively. T. polium also completely reduced plaque formation at period of 1 h, 2 h, and 3 h after cell infection at 50 μg/ml up to MNTC [Figure 2]. Extract of Z. clinopoides exhibited 100% inhibition at concentrations of 100 and 250 μg/ml and 86.4% inhibition at 50 μg/ml. Clear concentration and time-dependent inhibition could be demonstrated by these two plant extracts [Figures 1-3]. Extract of S. rhytidea exhibited the least anti-HSV-1 effect. The highest activity of the plant was revealed after 3 h of incubation. In all the tests, a parallel experiment was performed with acyclovir to ensure the correction route of the assay.

Finally, it can be concluded that RA content would not be the only factor affecting anti-viral effects of medicinal plants; however, its role and importance should not be completely ignored. In other words, the observed antiviral activity of effective plants might be due to other known plant constituents. It has been reported that flavonoids, essential oils, different derivatives of caffeic acid and tannins can block viral surface ligands or host cell receptors and inactivate HSV.[2,31,32,33,34,35] The presence of several groups of secondary metabolites has been also reported in these plants.[9]

It is for the 1st time that these plants were studied in terms of anti-viral effect. All the three tested plant extracts used in the present work exhibited an inhibitory effect against HSV-1. Further studies of identifying the accurate mechanism are being performed.

Footnotes

Source of Support: This work resulted from grant number 89/212. The authors would like to thank Vice Chancellor of Kerman University of Medical Sciences for supporting this project. This research was taken from Pharm.D thesis by two students (Mahnaz Heidarbeigi and Firoozeh Mehni).

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

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