Separation and anti-Hantaan virus activity of extracts from Alternanthera philoxcroides in vitro and in vivo

A water-soluble substance was extracted from the Chinese herb, Alternanthera philoxcroides with hot water and alcohol. Aliquots of this initial extract were further fractionated by treatment with ether, ethyl acetate and alcohol respectively. The four extracts were assayed for anti-viral activity against three serum, Hantaan virus 114 (HV114), HV435 and A9 strains. Results show that the four extracts are capable of inhibiting Hantaan virus propagation, of which extract No.1 has the best efficiency. The three dosage of extract No.1, which are used upon three Hantaan virus serum IC50, are 153, 157, 154 μg/mL. New-born mice were made to be infected with HV114 and then fed in vivo with extract No.1 on the 3rd, 10th and 14th days after being infected by the virus. The treatment continued for 8 days with a dosage of 2.5 g/kg. Result shows that survival rates of mice were 75%, 50% and 0, respectively. The median time to death (MTDs) of the three groups were 37, 30, 23 days.