Castalagin: Some aspects of the mode of Anti-Herpes Virus Activity

Castalagin, a nonahydroxytriphenoyl-bearing C-glucosidic ellagitannin, manifested a marked virucidal effect on HSV-1. This effect was markedly temperature and time dependent, being clearly higher at 37 °C than at room temperature: Δlog of 3.13 with 10 μM concentration of castalagin (MNC). Castalagin also suppressed HSV-1 particle attachment to MDBK cells. A significant effect (Δlog = 1.7) was found after 30 min of substance exposure and was increased at 60 min (Δlog = 3.2). Castalagin effect on the production of virions during the HSV-1 replication cycle was studied using a time-of-addition experimental scheme at the one-step viral replication cycle design. The highest sensitivity to castalagin was recorded 0–3 h post virus inoculation. A substantially weaker effect was found at the 6–12 h time intervals. At 18–24 h, HSV-1 replication was unsusceptible to castalagin. Evidently, castalagin target is located in the earlier stages of the HSV-1 replication cycle.</p