Primary Screening of Antiviral Potential of Quercus ilex (Wood) Extract Against BVDV: A Pestivirus Model of Hepatitis C Virus

In this study, we investigated the in vitro antiviral potential of Quercus ilex (wood) extract against Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV), a pestivirus model of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), in comparison to extracts of green tea (Camellia sinensis) and pomegranate (Punica granatum) which are previously reported to possess antiviral properties. The Crude Aqueous Methanol Extracts (CAMEs) of Q. ilex (wood), P. granatum (rind) and C. sinensis (leaves), besides crude ethanolic extract (CEE) of P. granatum (arils) were firstly evaluated for cytotoxicity on MDBK cell line. Afterward, evaluated for their in vitro antiviral activities against (BVDV) by means of (MTT/XTT) based colorimetric assays. The Q. ilex (wood) CAME exhibited an evident anti-BVDV activity which was found to be more pronounced than the other tested plant extracts on MDBK cells with inhibitory percentage (IP)>97% at virus dose of 10 and 100 TCID sub(50). Q. ilex (wood) extract has shown antiviral activity, thus suggesting this plant extract as a candidate for further activity-monitored fractionation to recognize its active constituents.