Antiviral Activity of Korean Traditional Prescriptions against Influenza Virus Type A

한약 처방 (복합체)의 Influenza Virus Type A에 대한 항바이러스 활성 효과

In order to search for anti-influenza virus type A agents from Korean traditional prescriptions (herb complexes), we selected 63 traditional prescriptions, based on a review of the Korean traditional medicine books. Both methanol extracts and boiling-water extracts were tested, by means of the Haemagglutination Inhibition Test (HIT). Three of the 63 methanol extracts: CM-22, CM-26, CM-48 (see explanation of nomenclature below), showed efficacy against influenza virus type ACM-22 showed anti-influenza virus type A activity at the range of $313{\mu}g/ml$ to $9.75{\mu}g/ml$, CM-26 showed antiviral activity at the range of $156{\mu}l/ml$ to $4.87{\mu}g/ml$, CM-48 showed anti-influenza virus type A activity at the range of $625{\mu}g/ml$ to $19.5{\mu}g/ml$, respectively. Three of the water extracts: CW-14, CW-34, CW-61 were active. CW-14 showed anti-influenza virus type A activity at the range of l0mg/ml to $78{\mu}g/ml$, CW-34 showed antiviral activity at the range of 10mg/ml to $625{\mu}g/ml$ and CW-61 showed anti-influenza virus type A activity at the range of l0mg/ml to $313{\mu}g/ml$, respectively. In order to determine cytotoxicity of each extracts, chicken red blood cells were incubated with the various concentration of extracts of Korean traditional prescriptions. CW-14, CW-34 and CW-61 did not show cytotoxic effect against red blood cells whereas CM-22, CM-26 and CM-48 showed cytotoxic effect against red blood cells at the range of l0mg/ml to $625{\mu}g/ml$, 10mg/ml to $313{\mu}g/ml$ and 10mg/ml to $313{\mu}g/ml$, respectively. These results indicated that Korean traditional pres criptions may be inhibit either attachment of virus to cell surface receptor or penetration of the virus into cell during the initial stage of infection.