Study on the Influenza Type A Activity of Fractions of Korean Medicinal Herbs

한약 단미제 분획의 Influenza virus type A 활성에 관한연구

In order to search for anti-influenza virus type A agents from Korean medicinal herbs, we selected 100 medicinal herbs, based on a review of the Korean traditional medicine books. Four of 100 Korean medicinal herbs, MM-40, MM-55, MM-63, MM-110, exhibited very strong anti-influenza virus activity. The fractions of four medicinal herbs, which had very strong anti-influenza virus activity, were tested for antiviral activity by means of Haemagglutination inhibition test(HTT), 40% MeOH fraction of MM-40, $H_2O$ fraction of MM-55, 20% fraction of MM-63 3nd $H_2O$ fraction of MM-110 had strong anti-influenza virus activity at the range of $78{\mu}g/ml$ to $156{\mu}g/ml$, 1.56mg/ml to 100mg/ml, 6.25mg/ml to 50mg/ml and $48.7{\mu}g/ml$ to $780{\mu}g/ml$, respectively. These results of HIT indicated that fractions of Korean medicinal herbs might inhibit either attachment of virus to cell surface receptor or penetration of virus into cell during the initial stage of infection. In the cytotoxicity of fractions against red blood cells, 40% MeOH fraction of MM-40, 20% fraction of MM-63 and $H_2O$ fraction of MM-110 showed cytotoxicity at the range of $78{\mu}g/ml$ to 10mg/ml, 50mg/ml to 100mg/ml and $195{\mu}g/ml$ to 100mg/ml, respectively, whereas $H_2O$ fraction of MM-55 did not show cytotoxicity. In order to establish influenza virus adapted animal model, influenza virus type A were passaged 3 and 4 times successively in Balb/c mouse. As a result, we had 4 HA unit titers on the 5 days of 3rd passages and 7 days of 4th passages after infection, respectively.