Evaluation antiviral activity of aerial parts extracts of Echinacea purpurea from Iran against HSV-1

Since years ago, phytopharmaceutical drugs have been used by various societies, as a traditional treatment. Echinacea purpurea (Asteraceae) is the best known of the dozen or so species of the genus Echinacea, a group of perennial prairie wildflowers native to the central grasslands of North American. E. purpurea is cultivated widely throughout the United states, Canada and Europe, although it has became widespread throughout the world, for its beauty as well as for its reported medicinal properties. Echinacea is used most widely as prevention or treatment for the common cold and flu, but they are also indicated for infections and topical conditions such as candidiasis, strep throat, staphylococcus infections, infected wounds, skin ulcers and burns, with the proposed mechanism of action relating to its reported ability to stimulate the immune system In this study, we investigated the antiviral effect of aerial parts extract of E. purpurea cultivated in climatic condition of Iran on HSV-1. For this purpose aerial parts plant was collected in flowering stage. The plant material was ground and extracted with 30% ethanol by maceration. The macerate was filtered and concentrated at 40?C in a rotary evaporator. Vero cell were grown in Dulbeco’s modified Eagle medium containing 5% fetal bovine serum, in 96 well micro test trays. The results show that E. purpurea has activity against HSV-1 virus cytopathic effect. So possibly, it has the potential antiviral activity.