Antiviral study on Punica granatum L., Momordica charantia L., Andrographis paniculata Nees, and Melia azedarach L., to Human Herpes Virus-3

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Human Herpes Virus-3 (Varicella Zoster Virus) causes Chickenpox in childhood and reactivates after decades of being latent to cause Herpes Zoster in adults. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro antiviral potency on the leaves of Punica granatum L., Momordica charantia L., Andrographis paniculata Nees. and Melia azedarach L., against the Human Herpes Virus-3 isolated from Chickenpox and Zoster in comparison with acyclovir. Methods Aqueous, ethanolic and aqueous ethanolic extracts were prepared from the chosen plant leaves by lyophilization process and subjected to in vitro cytotoxicity assay in HEp-2 cells followed by the in vitro antiviral evaluation against the clinical isolates of HHV-3 using post incubation assay. The structure of leaf chemicals were retrieved from protein data bank and in silico drug analysis was carried out through discovery studio targeting the protease of HHV-3.The drug likeliness and the ADMETSAR properties of the screened active phytochemicals were calculated. Results Aqueous extract from the leaves of Punica granatum L., exhibited potential antiviral activity against the HHV-3. The in silico docking results found that the phytochemicals of Punica granatum L., interacted on the active site of the HHV-3 protease. Conclusion Aqueous extract from the leaves of Punica granatum L. was superior in exhibiting its antiviral efficacy to HHV-3 whose in vitro activity was comparable with acyclovir. As the leaf phytochemicals interacted with the HHV-3 protease, the antiviral activity of the Punica granatum L., leaves may interfere with the capsid assembly of the HHV-3.