| Abstract: | The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro anti‐HSV‐2 activity and mechanism of action of proanthocyanidin A‐1, a compound isolated from Vaccinium vitis‐idaea Linn (Ericaceae). The results demonstrated that proanthocyanidin A‐1 exhibited anti‐HSV‐2 activity. The IC50 value for the XTT assay was 73.3 ± 14.5 µM and the IC50 and IC90 values for the plaque reduction assay were 41.9 ± 2.0 and 62.8 ± 6.3 µM respectively. Proanthocyanidin A‐1 showed no cell cytotoxic effect at concentrations that blocked HSV‐2 infection, with a CC50 value of 282.1 ± 27.5 µM . The mechanism studies demonstrated that proanthocyanidin A‐1 did not reduce viral infectivity but inhibited viral attachment and penetration and affected the late stage(s) of HSV‐2 infection. It was concluded that proanthocyanidin A‐1 suppressed HSV‐2 infection through many modes of action and thus merits further investigation. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry |
