Inhibition effect of shengma-gegen-tang on measles virus in Vero cells and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Abstract

Shengma-Gegen-Tang has long been used against measles virus in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) as well as in Vero cells. One hundred micrograms/ml Shengma-Gegen-Tang in PBMC displays significant anti-measles activity, whereas the same concentration in Vero cells does not. After eight days of infection, the release of virus is significantly suppressed by Shengma-Gegen-Tang in the case of PBMC. In addition, Shengma-Gegen-Tang has a selective stimulation to the secretion of cytokine TNF-alpha in PBMC. Time kinetic analysis indicated that the stimulation of secretion was rapid and could be detected only 2 hrs following the treatment of the PBMC. It rose to an optimal level in 8-12 hrs. These findings suggest that the magnification of anti-measles virus activity of this agent is lymphocyte dependent and may well be mediated by TNF-alpha.