The Inhibitory Effect of Quercqus Persica L Extract on Herpes Simplex Virus-1 Replication on Baby Hamster Kidney Cells

& Objectives: In the recent years, following the increase of drug resistant strain of viruses, there has been an increasing interest in the use of natural substances with antiviral activity with fewer side effects. One of these herbal medicines, Quercqus persica L, has shown some therapeutic effects, such as anti-bacterial and anti-viral activities. Therefore, this study was aimed to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration of hydroalcoholic extract of this plant on Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1). Materials & Methods: In this interventional study conducted at Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences in 2010, the hydro- alcoholic extract of Quercqus persica L. was prepared using 70% ethanol by the maceration method. Baby Hamster Kidney (BHK) cells were grown in monolayer culture with Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) supplemented with 5% fetal calf serum and plated into 48-well culture plates. Fifty percent of cytotoxic concentration (CC50%) of the extract on BHK cells was determined and subsequently, 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50%) of the herbal extract on replication of HSV-1 both in extracellular and interacellular cases were assessed. The statistical data was analyzed by the SPSS software using Probit analysis. Results: Based on Probit analysis, the extract had no cyto-toxicity up to concentration of 200 mg/ml. IC50s of the extract on the virus before cellular attachment and after entering the cells were 1.2 and 0.257 mg/ml, respectively. Based on the model, with the increasing of the extract concentration, the percentage of inhibition of cytopathic effect (CPE) in both of the stages were increased (p