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Objective: Influenza complications are mild to serious, and can cause death in some cases. A great deal of attention has been paid in recent years to the development and use of new antiviral compounds to overcome drug resistance in certain strains of the influenza virus and treat the clinical implications. This study aimed to investigate the antiviral effect of punicalagin and its associated mechanism against influenza A (H1N1) virus in vitro. Materials and Methods: the ant-influenza activity of punicalagin was studied in Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells using influenza virus A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1) (PR8) using Hemagglutinin assay (HA) and 50% tissue culture infective dose (TCID50). Then, the inhibition of haemagglutination, virucidal activity, inhibitory effect at different times, replication of viral RNA and expression of viral genes were investigated. Results: Punicalagin could inhibit influenza virus infection with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 3.98 µg/ml and selectivity index (SI) value of 6.1. Punicalagin decreased virus titers with an inhibitory effect on virus hemagglutination (p<0.05). Punicalagin also inhibited viral adsorption. The results of virus RNA replication and viral mRNA (NS1 and HA) expression after treatment with punicalagin showed significant suppression of viral mRNA expression but no effect on replication of viral RNA. Conclusion: The results of the present study indicated that punicalagin was effective against influenza infection most probably via inhibition of haemagglutination activity and virus binding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Herpes simplex type 1 (HSV-1) is one of the most common and contagious viruses in humans. Curcumin is a natural polyphenol that produces antiviral effects against various viruses, such as HSVs. Despite curcumin’s numerous effects and benefits, its insolubility has reduced its clinical effectiveness. During recent decades, significant progress has been made in nanodrugs, which has helped expand new delivery systems. This study investigated the in vitro antiviral activity of curcuminloaded, folic acid-chitosan-coated selenium nanoparticles (SeNP) against HSV-1. Methods: Synthesized SeNPs loaded with curcumin and coated with folic acid-chitosan molecules were used in this experimental study. The studied groups comprised cells and the virus-containing curcumin, acyclovir, and NPs with or without curcumin. The cytotoxicity of the compounds was evaluated on Vero cells using the MTT assay. Antiviral activity was investigated using the MTT colorimetric assay, and the inhibitory effect on HSV-1 was studied using a 50% tissue culture infectious dose assay. Results: The results of this research demonstrated that curcumin (50% inhibitory concentration [IC50]=5.64 µg/mL) and curcumin-loaded SeNPs (IC50=1.15 µg/mL) exhibited satisfactory antiviral potential against HSV-1 in vitro, while curcumin-loaded, folic acid-chitosan-coated SeNPs produced no antiviral effect against HSV-1 due to increased cytotoxicity. Conclusion: Based on the findings, the curcumin and curcumin-loaded SeNPs had acceptable antiviral potential against HSV-1. Loading curcumin with SeNPs makes the compound more active at a lower concentration, and therefore, lower doses can be administered to treat HSV-1 infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]