Antiviral activity of panamanian plant extracts

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Abstract
Panamanian tropical forest plants are potential sources of useful medicinal compounds including some with antiviral activities. Extracts prepared from the leaves of seven plants (Alseis blackiana Hemsl., Aspidosperma megalocarpon Muell, Arg., Hybanthus prunifolius (Humb. & Bonpl.) G. K. Schulze, Ouratea lucens Engl., Piper cordulatum C. DC., Trichilia cipo C. DC. and Tetragastris panamensis Kuntze) were screened for antiviral activity using three separate assay methods. The more polar (aqueous and ethanol) extracts of all plants demonstrated antiviral and virucidal activities. Good activities were found in the Ouratea lucens and Trichilia cipo ethanol and aqueous extracts which were further characterized for antiviral activity and cytotoxic effects. These extracts had direct virucidal activity as well as intracellular antiviral activity against both DNA and RNA viruses. Antiviral activity was achieved with extract concentrations significantly lower than those necessary to produce cytotoxic effects. Additionally, extracts were less toxic to normal cells than to the tumour cells tested.