Khaya grandifoliola C.DC: a potential source of active ingredients against hepatitis C virus in vitro

Arch Virol. 2016 May;161(5):1169-81. doi: 10.1007/s00705-016-2771-5. Epub 2016 Feb 3.

Abstract

In this study, we examined the antiviral properties of Khaya grandifoliola C.DC (Meliaceae) on the hepatitis C virus (HCV) life cycle in vitro and identified some of the chemical constituents contained in the fraction with the most antiviral activity. Dried bark powder was extracted by maceration in a methylene chloride/methanol (MCM) system (50:50; v/v) and separated on silica gel by flash chromatography. Infection and replication rates in Huh-7 cells were investigated by luciferase reporter assay and indirect immunofluorescence assay using subgenomic replicons, HCV pseudotyped particles, and cell-culture-derived HCV (HCVcc), respectively. Cell viability was assessed by MTT assay, and cellular gene expression was analysed by qRT-PCR. The chemical composition of the fraction with the most antiviral activity was analysed by coupled gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Five fractions of different polarities (F0-F100) were obtained from the MCM extract. One fraction (KgF25) showed the strongest antiviral effect on LucUbiNeoET replicons at nontoxic concentrations. Tested at 100 µg/mL, KgF25 had a high inhibitory effect on HCV replication, comparable to that of 0.01 µM daclatasvir or 1 µM telaprevir. This fraction also inhibited HCVcc infection by mostly targeting the entry step. KgF25 inhibited HCV entry in a pan-genotypic manner by directly inactivating free viral particles. Its antiviral effects were mediated by the transcriptional upregulation of the haem oxygenase-1 gene and interferon antiviral response. Three constituents, namely, benzene, 1,1'-(oxydiethylidene)bis (1), carbamic acid, (4-methylphenyl)-, 1-phenyl (2), and 6-phenyl, 4-(1'-oxyethylphenyl) hexene (3), were identified from the active fraction KgF25 by GC-MS. Khaya grandifoliola contains ingredients capable of acting on different steps of the HCV life cycle.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / isolation & purification
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Chromatography, Gel / methods
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / methods
  • Hepacivirus / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Meliaceae* / chemistry
  • Plant Bark* / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / isolation & purification
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Virus Internalization / drug effects
  • Virus Replication / drug effects

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Plant Extracts