Biomaterial Database

Antiviral activity of Viracea against acyclovir susceptible and acyclovir resistant strains of herpes simplex virus. 1998

K D Thompson

Department of Pathology, The University of Chicago Medical Center, IL 60637, USA. thompson@midway.uchicago.edu

Viracea, a topical microbicide, is a blend of benzalkonium chloride and phytochemicals derived from Echinacea purpurea and is a proprietary formula from Destiny BioMediX Corp. Viracea was tested against 40 strains of herpes simplex virus (HSV): 15 strains (five HSV-1 and ten HSV-2) were resistant to acyclovir (ACV-R) and 25 strains (13 HSV-1 and 12 HSV-2) were susceptible to ACV (ACV-S). The median ED50 of Viracea for the five ACV-R strains of HSV-1 was a 1:100 dilution of the drug with a range of 1:50-1:400. The median ED50 of Viracea for the ten ACV-R strains of HSV-2 was 1:200 with a range of 1:50-1:3200. For the ACV-S strains of HSV-1 and HSV-2, the median ED50 of Viracea was 1:100 and 1:200, respectively. The cytotoxicity of Viracea was evaluated in a standard neutral red dye uptake assay in human foreskin fibroblasts. The cytotoxicity of Viracea approached only 50% at the highest concentration of the drug tested, a 1:2 dilution, indicating that Viracea is non-toxic in this cell cytotoxicity assay. Although the active component(s) in Viracea that has anti-HSV activity is not known, it appears that this extract has good antiviral activity against both ACV resistant and ACV susceptible strains of HSV-1 and HSV-2.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D002478	Cells, Cultured	Cells propagated in vitro in special media conducive to their growth. Cultured cells are used to study developmental, morphologic, metabolic, physiologic, and genetic processes, among others.	Cultured Cells,Cell, Cultured,Cultured Cell
D004352	Drug Resistance, Microbial	The ability of microorganisms, especially bacteria, to resist or to become tolerant to chemotherapeutic agents, antimicrobial agents, or antibiotics. This resistance may be acquired through gene mutation or foreign DNA in transmissible plasmids (R FACTORS).	Antibiotic Resistance,Antibiotic Resistance, Microbial,Antimicrobial Resistance, Drug,Antimicrobial Drug Resistance,Antimicrobial Drug Resistances,Antimicrobial Resistances, Drug,Drug Antimicrobial Resistance,Drug Antimicrobial Resistances,Drug Resistances, Microbial,Resistance, Antibiotic,Resistance, Drug Antimicrobial,Resistances, Drug Antimicrobial
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000212	Acyclovir	A GUANOSINE analog that acts as an antimetabolite. Viruses are especially susceptible. Used especially against herpes.	Acycloguanosine,9-((2-Hydroxyethoxy)methyl)guanine,Aci-Sanorania,Acic,Aciclobeta,Aciclostad,Aciclovir,Aciclovir Alonga,Aciclovir-Sanorania,Acifur,Acipen Solutab,Acivir,Activir,Acyclo-V,Acyclovir Sodium,Antiherpes Creme,Avirax,Cicloferon,Clonorax,Cusiviral,Genvir,Herpetad,Herpofug,Herpotern,Herpoviric,Isavir,Laciken,Mapox,Maynar,Milavir,Opthavir,Supraviran,Viclovir,Vipral,Virax-Puren,Virherpes,Virmen,Virolex,Virupos,Virzin,Wellcome-248U,Zoliparin,Zovirax,Zyclir,aciclovir von ct,Aci Sanorania,Aciclovir Sanorania,Acyclo V,Alonga, Aciclovir,Sodium, Acyclovir,Solutab, Acipen,Virax Puren,ViraxPuren,Wellcome 248U,Wellcome248U
D000998	Antiviral Agents	Agents used in the prophylaxis or therapy of VIRUS DISEASES. Some of the ways they may act include preventing viral replication by inhibiting viral DNA polymerase; binding to specific cell-surface receptors and inhibiting viral penetration or uncoating; inhibiting viral protein synthesis; or blocking late stages of virus assembly.	Antiviral,Antiviral Agent,Antiviral Drug,Antivirals,Antiviral Drugs,Agent, Antiviral,Agents, Antiviral,Drug, Antiviral,Drugs, Antiviral
D001548	Benzalkonium Compounds	A mixture of alkylbenzyldimethylammonium compounds. It is a bactericidal quaternary ammonium detergent used topically in medicaments, deodorants, mouthwashes, as a surgical antiseptic, and as a as preservative and emulsifier in drugs and cosmetics.	Benzalkonium,Benzalkonium Chloride,Alkyldimethylbenzylammonium Chloride,Asepsol,BTC-2125,Drapolene,Germex,Osvan,Zephiran,BTC 2125,BTC2125,Chloride, Alkyldimethylbenzylammonium,Chloride, Benzalkonium,Compounds, Benzalkonium
D018258	Herpesvirus 2, Human	A species of SIMPLEXVIRUS associated with genital infections (HERPES GENITALIS). It is transmitted by sexual intercourse and close personal contact.	HSV-2,Herpes Simplex Virus 2,Human Herpesvirus 2,HHV-2,Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2,Herpesvirus 2 (alpha), Human
D018259	Herpesvirus 1, Human	The type species of SIMPLEXVIRUS causing most forms of non-genital herpes simplex in humans. Primary infection occurs mainly in infants and young children and then the virus becomes latent in the dorsal root ganglion. It then is periodically reactivated throughout life causing mostly benign conditions.	HSV-1,Herpes Simplex Virus 1,HHV-1,Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1,Herpesvirus 1 (alpha), Human,Human Herpesvirus 1
D019659	Asteraceae	A large plant family of the order Asterales, subclass Asteridae, class Magnoliopsida. The family is also known as Compositae. Flower petals are joined near the base and stamens alternate with the corolla lobes. The common name of "daisy" refers to several genera of this family including Aster; CHRYSANTHEMUM; RUDBECKIA; TANACETUM.	Aspilia,Carpesium,Clibadium,Compositae,Doronicum,Emilia Plant,Heterotheca,Iostephane,Leopard's Bane, False,Lychnophora,Phagnalon,Sphaeranthus,Trixis,Viguiera,Enhydra fluctuans,Ixeris,Pseudognaphalium,Silphium,Aspilias,Bane, False Leopard's,Banes, False Leopard's,Carpesiums,Clibadiums,Doronicums,Emilia Plants,Enhydra fluctuan,False Leopard's Bane,False Leopard's Banes,Heterothecas,Iostephanes,Ixeri,Leopard Bane, False,Leopard's Banes, False,Leopards Bane, False,Lychnophoras,Phagnalons,Plant, Emilia,Plants, Emilia,Pseudognaphaliums,Silphiums,Trixi,Viguieras,fluctuan, Enhydra