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Antiviral and Immunomodulatory Properties of Prunella vulgaris

Antiviral and Immunomodulatory Properties of Prunella vulgaris

Antiviral and Immunomodulatory Properties of Prunella vulgaris

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Asian Journal <strong>of</strong> Traditional Medicinesacid in extracts <strong>of</strong> P. <strong>vulgaris</strong> consistently inhibited theinteraction between Lck SH2 <strong>and</strong> a peptide containingits consensus binding sequence at pYEEI. It was shownthat the inhibitory effect <strong>of</strong> rosmarinic acid was specificfor the SH2 domains <strong>of</strong> Src family protein tyrosinekinase. It was also found that rosmarinic acid inhibitedTCR-induced-Ca 2+ mobilization <strong>and</strong> IL-2 promoteractivation. Thus, this suggested the inhibition involvedthe membrane proximal site <strong>of</strong> TCR signaling <strong>and</strong>showed that rosmarinic acid inhibited the expression <strong>of</strong>cytokines, such as IL-2 <strong>and</strong> IFN-gamma [37] .Overall perspectivesThe above results provide ample evidence <strong>of</strong> theantiviral <strong>and</strong> immunomodulatory properties <strong>of</strong> P.<strong>vulgaris</strong>. Most importantly, its active components inaqueous extracts have been studied in detail <strong>and</strong> potentantiviral activity againt HIV, HSV <strong>and</strong> HSV mutantshave been demonstrated. Furthermore, severalcompounds like prunellin, tannins, polyphenols <strong>and</strong> itspolysaccharides exhibit strong inhibitory effects on HIV<strong>and</strong> HSV. The mechanisms <strong>of</strong> action may involvesuppression <strong>of</strong> the early or late stages <strong>of</strong> viral replication,integrase activity, blocking <strong>of</strong> surface glycoproteins <strong>and</strong>viral antigens. Interestingly, the immunomodulatoryeffects <strong>of</strong> P. <strong>vulgaris</strong> may act synergistically with itsanti-viral effects. The polysaccharide fractions <strong>of</strong> P.<strong>vulgaris</strong> could not only markedly stimulate theproduction <strong>of</strong> superoxide <strong>and</strong> nitrite, representing nitricoxide, from murine macrophage RAW264.7 <strong>and</strong> brainmacrophage BV2 cells, but also the protein levels <strong>of</strong>inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) <strong>and</strong> the mRNA ortumor necrosis factor alpha [35, 36] . The actions <strong>of</strong> P.<strong>vulgaris</strong> extracts on immune factors like histamine, IL-2,TNF-alpha, IgG, IgG1, IgG2b, nitric oxide, Src familyprotein kinase <strong>and</strong> T cell activation may be associatedwith specific cell targets during inflammatory <strong>and</strong>allergic actions. P. <strong>vulgaris</strong> exhibits significant dualproperties in the areas mentioned. These results confirmthat P. <strong>vulgaris</strong> is able to act as a new <strong>and</strong> effectiveantiviral agent with low toxicity. However, morein-depth studies on the chemical components <strong>of</strong> P.<strong>vulgaris</strong> need to be carried out to advance the search foreffective antiviral agents. Also, it is essential to carry outresearch on the co-administration <strong>of</strong> the active fractionswith currently used antiviral agents, a cocktail treatment,to examine their effect on HSV <strong>and</strong> HIV infections.Clinically, the extract <strong>of</strong> P. <strong>vulgaris</strong> has been developed<strong>and</strong> used in oral hygiene products for the control <strong>of</strong>gingivitis <strong>and</strong> in eye drops for the treatment <strong>of</strong> keratitisdue to the herpes infection. Considering the differentpathways <strong>of</strong> transmission <strong>of</strong> viral infections, commonlythrough the mucosae (e.g. labial <strong>and</strong> genital herpes),novel topical agents with good antiviral <strong>and</strong>immunomodulatory effects need to be developed toprevent sexually transmitted infections including HSV<strong>and</strong> HIV.To conclude, the combined properties <strong>of</strong> P. <strong>vulgaris</strong>suggest that it has great potential as a treatment for viralinfections as well as immunological disorders.References[1] World Health Organization. WHO Regional Publications,Western Pacific Series No.2, Medicinal Plants in China – Aselection <strong>of</strong> 150 commonly used species. 1989, P. 231[2] Namba T. The Encyclopedia <strong>of</strong> Wakan-Yaku (TraditionalSino-Japanese Medicines), vol. II. Hoikusha Publishing Co. Osaka,Japan. 1994. P.120-1[3] Shin TY, Kim YK, Kim HM. Inhibition <strong>of</strong> Immediate-typeallergic reactions by <strong>Prunella</strong> <strong>vulgaris</strong> in a murine model.Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol 2001: 23(3): 423-35[4] Grieve M. A Modern Herbal. Hafner Press, New York. 1974.[5] Matthiolus PA. Kräutherbuch, Noringberg.1626.[6] Psotova J, Kolar M, Sousek J, Svagera Z, Vicar J, Ulrichova J.Biological activities <strong>of</strong> <strong>Prunella</strong> <strong>vulgaris</strong> extract. Phytother Res2003:17: 1082-7[7] Hu SY. Herbal teas <strong>and</strong> populace health care in tropical China.Am J Chin Med 1997:25(1):103-34[8] Zheng M. Experimental study <strong>of</strong> 472 herbs with antiviralaction against the herpes simplex virus. Zhong Xi Yi Jie He ZaZhi. 1990:10(1): 39-41, 46 (In Chinese)[9] Kurokawa M, Ochiai H, Nagasaka K, Neki M, Xu HX, KadotaS, et al. <strong>Antiviral</strong> traditional medicines against herpes simplexvirus (HSV-1), poliovirus, <strong>and</strong> measles virus in vitro <strong>and</strong> theirtherapeutic efficacies for HSV-1 infection in mice. <strong>Antiviral</strong> Res1993: 22: 175-88[10] Xu HX, Lee SHS, Lee SF, White RL, Blay J. Isolation <strong>and</strong>characterization <strong>of</strong> an anti-HSV polysaccharide from <strong>Prunella</strong><strong>vulgaris</strong>. <strong>Antiviral</strong> Res 1999: 44: 43-54[11] Wang ZJ, Zhao YY, Tu GZ, Hong SL, Chen YY. Studies onthe chemical constituents from <strong>Prunella</strong> <strong>vulgaris</strong>. ActaPharmaceutica Sinica. 1999: 34(9): 679-81. (In Chinese)[13] Ryu SY, Oak MH, Yoon SK, Cho DI, Yoo GS, Kim TS, et al.Anti-allergic <strong>and</strong> anti-inflammatory triterpenes from the herb <strong>of</strong><strong>Prunella</strong> <strong>vulgaris</strong>. Planta Med 2000: 66: 358-60[14] Tian J, Xiao ZY, Chen YY, Zhao YY, Wang ZJ. Structureidentification <strong>of</strong> vulgarsaponin A. Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica2000:35(1): 29-31[15] Wang ZJ, Zhao YY, Chen YY, Ma BN. Triterpenoidcompounds <strong>of</strong> <strong>Prunella</strong> genus <strong>and</strong> their feature <strong>of</strong> 13C NMRspectroscopy. China Journal <strong>of</strong> Chinese Materia Medica. 2000:25(10): 583-8 (In Chinese)[16] Tabba HD, Chang RS, Smith KM. Isolation, purification, <strong>and</strong>partial characterization <strong>of</strong> prunellin, an anti-HIV component fromaqueous extracts <strong>of</strong> <strong>Prunella</strong> <strong>vulgaris</strong>. <strong>Antiviral</strong> Res 1989: 11(5-6):263-73[17] Liu F, Ng TB. Antioxidative <strong>and</strong> free radical scavengingactivities <strong>of</strong> selected medicinal herbs.Life Sci 2000: 66(8):725-35[18] Skottova N, Kazdova L, Oliyarnyk O, Vecera R, Sobolova L,Ulrichova J. Phenolics-rich extracts from Silybum marianum <strong>and</strong><strong>Prunella</strong> <strong>vulgaris</strong> reduce a high-sucrose diet induced oxidativestress in hereditary hypertriglyceridemic rats. Pharmacol Res2004:50(2): 123-30[19] Lee KH, Lin YM, Wu TS, Zhang DC, Yamagishi T, HayashiT, et al. The cytotoxic principles <strong>of</strong> <strong>Prunella</strong> <strong>vulgaris</strong>, Psychotriaserpens, <strong>and</strong> Hyptis capitata: ursolic acid <strong>and</strong> related derivatives.4

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