(February 2, 2016) Neuherberg,
February 2, 2016. Scientists at the Helmholtz Zentrum München discover that
extracts of the medicinal plant Cistus incanus (Ci) prevent human
immunodeficiency viruses from infecting cells. Active antiviral ingredients in
the extracts inhibit docking of viral proteins to cells. Antiviral activity of
Cistus extracts also targets Ebola- and Marburg viruses. The results were
published in Scientific Reports*.
Virus infections are among the ten leading causes of death
worldwide and represent a major global health challenge. Their control requires
the continuous development of new and potent antiviral drugs/therapeutic
options. Despite the availability of
numerous drugs for chronic treatment of HIV/AIDS, new drugs are needed to
prevent the emergence of drug resistant viral variants. Furthermore, new
antiviral drugs are required for rapid treatment of acute infections by viruses
like Marburg and Ebola viruses during acute viral outbreaks. A recent study by
the team of Professor Ruth Brack-Werner and Dr. Stephanie Rebensburg from the
Institute for Virology (VIRO) of the Helmholtz Zentrum München demonstrates
that extracts of the medicinal plant attack HIV and Ebola virus particles and
prevent them from multiplying in cultured cells.
HIV: broad activity,
no resistance
The Brack-Werner team found potent activity of Ci extracts
acted against a broad spectrum of clinical HIV-1 and HIV-2 isolates. This also
included a virus isolate resistant against most available drugs. „Antiviral
ingredients of Ci extracts target viral envelope proteins on infectious
particles and prevent them from contacting host cells“, Brack-Werner explains.
No resistant viruses were detected during long-term treatment (24 weeks) with
Ci extract, indicating that Ci extract attacks viruses without causing
resistance. The Brack-Werner study suggests that commercial herbal extracts
from plants like Cistus incanus*or other plants like Pelargonium sidoides** are
promising material for the development of scientifically validated antiviral
phytotherapeutics. „Since antiviral activity of Ci extracts differs from all
clinically approved drugs, Ci-derived products could be an important
complementation to current established drug regimens“, says Brack-Werner.