Xanthohumol enhances antiviral effect of interferon alpha-2b against bovine viral diarrhea virus, a surrogate of hepatitis C virus.

Abstract

Xanthohumol (XN) is a natural compound with multifunctional potentials, including antiviral activity. In this study, the antiviral activity of addition of XN to interferon (IFN)-alpha was examined and compared with each compound alone using bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), a surrogate model of hepatitis C virus (HCV). BVDV E2 protein and the viral RNA level were determined by immunofluorescence and quantitative real-time RT-PCR, respectively. The addition of XN to IFN-alpha significantly improved CPEs induced by the virus and inhibited BVDV E2 protein and viral RNA levels. The interaction between XN and IFN-alpha was significant (P<0.001). XN at 3.13 microg/ml in combination with IFN-alpha at 50 IU/ml showed greater inhibitory effect on the viral RNA level than each compound used alone at 6.25 microg/ml and 100 IU/ml, respectively, indicating synergistic effect on BVDV replication in this combination. The inhibitory activity in all the tested combinations of XN and IFN-alpha was stronger than that of each compound used alone at the corresponding concentration. These results suggest that XN in combination with IFN-alpha exhibited a greater in vitro antiviral effect compared with each compound used alone. Further studies are deserved to investigate the anti-HCV activity of XN and the potential of XN in formulating novel anti-HCV regimen.

• Authors: Ni Zhang, Zhengwen Liu, Qunying Han, Jinghong Chen, Yi Lv
• Journal: Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (Phytomedicine) Vol. 17 Issue 5 Pg. 310-6 (Apr 2010) ISSN: 1618-095X [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 19748253 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright 2009 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents
• Flavonoids
• Interferon alpha-2
• Interferon-alpha
• Plant Extracts
• Propiophenones
• RNA, Viral
• Recombinant Proteins
• Viral Envelope Proteins
• gp53, bovine viral diarrhea virus
• xanthohumol

Topics

• Animals
• Antiviral Agents (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Cattle
• Cell Line
• Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral (drug effects)
• Diarrhea Viruses, Bovine Viral (drug effects)
• Drug Synergism
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Flaviviridae Infections (drug therapy, virology)
• Flavonoids (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Hepacivirus
• Humulus (chemistry)
• Interferon alpha-2
• Interferon-alpha (therapeutic use)
• Male
• Phytotherapy
• Plant Extracts (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Propiophenones (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• RNA, Viral (metabolism)
• Recombinant Proteins
• Testis
• Viral Envelope Proteins (antagonists & inhibitors)