African Journal of
Biotechnology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Biotechnol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1684-5315
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJB
  • Start Year: 2002
  • Published Articles: 12487

Full Length Research Paper

Antiviral activity of the extracts of Rhodophyceae from Morocco

Bouhlal Rhimou1,2*, Riadi Hassane2 and Bourgougnon Nathalie1  
1Université européenne de Bretagne (UEB), Laboratoire de Biotechnologie et Chimie Marines (LBCM), Centre de  recherche Yves Coppens, Université de Bretagne-Sud. Vannes, B.P.  573 56017, France. 2Laboratoire de Diversité et Conservation de Systèmes Biologiques (LDICOSYB), Faculté de  Science, Université Abdelmalek Essaâdi, Tétouan, Maroc. B.P. 2121, 93003, Morocco.
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 26 April 2010
  •  Published: 15 November 2010

Abstract

Fifty-five aqueous, methanolic, chloroforme-methanolic and dichloromethanolic extracts derived from sixteen species of marine Rhodophyta from the coast of Morocco have been screened for the presence of inhibitory compounds against Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) by cell viability method. The aqueous extracts of Asparagopsis armataCeramium rubrumGelidium pulchellumGelidium spinulosumHalopitys incurvusHypnea musciformisPlocamium cartilagineum,Boergeseniella thuyoidesPterosiphonia complanata and Sphaerococcus coronopifolius were capable of inhibiting the replication of HSV-1 in vitro at an EC50 (Effective Concentration 50%) ranging from <2.5 to 75.9 µg mL-1. No cytotoxic effect of the aqueous extracts on the Vero cells was observed in the range of the concentrations assayed for all extracts. The results corroborate that marine algae from Morocco can be a rich source of potential antiviral compounds.

 

Keywords: Antiviral, Aqueous extracts, Organic extracts, Rhodophyceae, Herpes simplex virus

Abbreviation

Abbreviations: HSV-1, Herpes simplex virus type 1; EC50, effective concentration 50%; AIDS, acquired immune deficiency syndromeDMSO, dimethylsulphoxide;MEM, minimal essential medium; FCSfetal calf serum; OD, optical densities;CC50, 50% cytotoxic concentration; %D, percentage of cell destructionMOI,multiplicity of infection; CPE, cytopathic effect; % P, percentage of cell protectionSI,selectivity index.