Antiviral Effects of Aqueous Extract from Spatholobus suberectus Dunn. against Coxsackievirus B3 in Mice

Objective： To investigate the antiviral effects of the aqueous extract of Spatholobus suberectus Dunn. （A.E.）, a Chinese medicinal herb, against coxsackievirus B3 （CVB3）. Methods： The antiviral effects of A.E. against CVB3 in vitro （primarily cultured myocardial cells） and in vivo （BALB/c mice） were determined. Serum pharmacological method was also adopted by in vitro experiments. The effects of A.E. inhibiting the CVB3 mRNA expression were compared by RT-PCR in mice in vivo. Results： A.E. exhibited obvious antiviral effects in vivo, and serum samples obtained from the rats with oral administration of A.E. （10 μg/mL, 5 μg/mL） reduced the virus titers in the infected myocardial cells （3.00±0.70, 3.55±0.52, P〈0.01）. Meanwhile, the viral myocarditis induced by CVB3 was inhibited significantly by A.E., and the 15-day mortality was reduced to 40% and 45% （P〈0.01） in mice treated with A.E. at doses of 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg, respectively, while the 30-day mortality was decreased to 45% and 50%, respectively （P〈0.01）. Moreover, the mRNA expression of Coxsackie virus B3 was significantly inhibited by A.E. Conclusion： Aqueous extract of Spatho/obus suberectus Dunn. （A.E.） has inhibitory effect on CVB3 both in vitro and in vivo.