| dc.description.abstract | Medicinal plants have been used for centuries in traditional practices to treat a wide range of ailments, including
viral infections. Phytochemicals found in these plants represent a promising and largely untapped resource for
the development of novel antiviral agents, particularly in light of the limited availability of effective antiviral
therapies. This study aimed to evaluate the antiviral potential of five polyphenolic compounds commonly found
in medicinal plants: quercetin, rutin, baicalein, (-)-epicatechin, and ethyl gallate against bovine alphaherpesvirus
type 1 (BoAHV-1), used as a model for the Orthoherpesviridae family. The cytotoxicity and antiviral activity of the
compounds were assessed in vitro using the colorimetric MTT assay. Antiviral effects were quantified based on
the concentration required to inhibit 50% of viral replication (IC₅₀). Compounds were tested individually and in
combination, with treatments applied before, during, and after viral infection. Expression of the viral gB gene was
evaluated using RT-qPCR. Quercetin, rutin, and baicalein exhibited notable antiviral activity, with IC₅₀ values of
16.8 μg mL⁻1, 21.4 μg mL⁻1, and 26.4 μg mL⁻1, respectively, and high selectivity indices (> 15.4, 10.0, and 8.0). In
contrast, (-)-epicatechin and ethyl gallate showed no measurable antiviral effect (IC₅₀ > 256 μg mL⁻1). Combinatorial
treatments revealed significant synergistic effects. All active compounds reduced gB gene expression, regardless of
the timing of treatment. The results support the antiviral potential of certain plant-derived polyphenols, both alone
and in synergy, underscoring their promise as candidates for the development of novel antiviral therapies targeting
herpesviruses. | en_US |
