Acacia mangium: A promising plant for isolating anti-hepatitis C virus agents

Abstract

Background: Medicinal plants have been demonstrated to possess various pharmacological effects including anti-hepatitis C virus. Acacia  mangium is one of the Acacia genus that contain with  various metabolites. The metaboilites play an  important role for antiviral activities. The current study examined the anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) activities of Acacia mangium extracts in solvents with various polarities and further evaluated the mechanism of action of the extracts on the protein virus and combination treatment models. Methods: Anti-hepatitis C virus activities was conducted by in vitro culture cells of Huh 7it both in a single or combination treatment. Further examined its NS3 protein inhibition was evaluated by western blotting assay. Results: The results revealed the strong anti-HCV activities of the extracts. The 50% inhibition concentrations (IC50s) of the ethanol, n-hexane, dichloromethane and methanol extracts were of 4.6 ± 0.3, 2.9 ± 0.2, 0.2 ± 0.3, and 2.8 ± 0.2 μg/mL, respectively, and no cytotoxic effect was detected. These extracts displayed stronger effects than the positive control ribavirin. The mode of action of the ethanol extract was evaluated at 30 µg/mL, revealing that the inhibitory effect was stronger on the post-entry step than on the entry step. Western blotting revealed that the extracts decreased NS3 protein expression, indicating that virus replication was suppressed. Further evaluation illustrated that combined treatment with the ethanol extract enhanced the anti-viral activity of simeprevir. Conclusions: These results indicated that A. mangium leaves could represent sources of anti-HCV agents.