Antiviral activity of seselin from Aegle marmelos against nuclear polyhedrosis virus infection in the larvae of silkworm, Bombyx mori.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Traditional Indian medicine has utilized Aeglemarmelos (L.) Corr. commonly called as bael in several indigenous systems against various diseases. Bioactive components isolated from various plant parts of A. marmelos were used in ethno-medicine. More precisely they are known for its antiviral property against various human and animal viruses.
Aim of the Study: The study was conducted to investigate the antiviral activity of A.marmelos against Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV).
Materials and Methods: Among the various crude extracts tested, hexane extracts of leaves of A. marmelos with promising anti-BmNPV activity was subjected to bioactivity guided fractionation based on column chromatography. Out of 40 fractions obtained from the fractionation, fractions showing similar TLC profiles were pooled into 14 fractions. A fraction with potential activity was used to purify a molecule with anti-BmNPV activity. This molecule was characterized through structural and functional analyses.
Results: The functionally and structurally characterized molecule in the fraction with prospective anti-BmNPV activity revealed a single crystal compound 'seselin' (8, 8-dimethyl pyrido oxazine-2-one).
Conclusion: It is therefore understood that this seselin compound could be used as a natural medicine for the management of NPV infection in the silkworm larvae under commercial conditions after suitable field evaluations.
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