Experimental Medications Made with Сetraria islandica Showing Antiviral Activity against Influenza A Virus

Background. To date, virologists have identified more than 25,000 influenza virus А serotypes, and their number will increase in the future. Therefore, the development of new antiviral drugs will always be relevant.

The aim of the study is to obtain and test the chemical composition and antiviral activity of the lichen Cetraria islandica extracts against the influenza A virus.

Material and methods. Samples of lichen Cetraria islandica (aqueous and ethanol extracts) were tested for toxic properties and antiviral activity against influenza A virus in MDCK cell culture.

Results. Samples of aqueous and ethanol extracts of Cetraria islandica were obtained; their chemical composition was described. In MDCK cell culture, the extracts exhibited antiviral activity against human influenza virus А/H3N2 and avian influenza virus А/H5N1. When studying the mechanism of action of Cetraria islandica extracts, it was noted that Cetraria islandica samples possess pronounced antiviral properties against avian influenza A/chicken/Kurgan/05/2005 (H5N1) and human influenza A/Aichi/2/68 (H3N2) at the stage of their adsorption and reproduction.

Conclusions. Samples of Cetraria islandica have antiviral activity at the stage of adsorption and reproduction of influenza A virus in MDCK cell culture. The ethanol extract shows a higher antiviral efficacy compared to the aqueous extract.

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?mode=Undef&id=11308&lvl=3&keep=1&srchmode=1&unlock.

2. Watts J. Asian nations step up action to curb spread of avian influenza. Lancet. 2004; 363 (9406): 373. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(04)15475-5.

3. Murav'eva D.A., Samylina I.A., Yakovlev G.P. Farmakognoziya: Uchebnik. Moscow: Meditsina; 2022. (in Russian)]

4. Vichkanova S.A. Izuchenie list'ev oblepikhi i sozdanie na ikh osnove otechestvennogo protivovirusnogo sredstva «Giporamin». (Conference proceedigs) V Mezhdunarodnyi sezd «Aktual'nye problemy sozdaniya novykh lekarstvennykh preparatov prirodnogo proiskhozhdeniya»; 2001; Sankt-Peterburg. (in Russian)].

5. Shtro A.A. Issledovanie aktivnosti proizvodnykh usninovoi kisloty v otnoshenii virusa grippa. [dissertation]. Sankt-Peterburg; 2014. (in Russian)].

6. Patent RUS №2464033/ 20.10.2012. Byul. №29. Sokolov D.N., Luzina O.A., Polovinka M.P., Salakhutdinov N.F., Kiselev O.I., Zarubaev V.V., Shtro A.A. Usninovaya kislota i ee okislennoe proizvodnoe v kachestve ingibitorov reproduktsii virusa grippa. (in Russian)]

7. Protsenko M.A. Razrabotka tekhnologii eksperimental'nykh obraztsov preparatov iz vysshikh bazidiomitsetov. [dissertation] Kol'tsovo; 2016. (in Russian)]

8. Kukushkina T. A., Zykov A. A., Obukhova L. A. Manzhetka obyknovennaya (Alchemilla vulgaris L.) kak istochnik lekarstvennykh sredstv. Materialy UP Mezhdunarodnogo S#ezda Fitofarm 2003. «Aktual'nye problemy sozdaniya novykh lekarstvennykh preparatov prirodnogo proiskhozhdeniya». SPb.: Pushkin, 03–05 ijyulya 2003; 64–69. (in Russian)]

9. Protsenko M.A., Mazurkova N.A., Filippova E.I., Kukushkina T.A., Lobanova I.E., Pshenichkina Yu.A., Vysochina G.I. Anti-influenza activity of plant extracts of the Lamiaceae family. Khimija Rastitel’nogo Syr’ja. 2021; 2: 181–190. doi: https://doi.org/10.14258/jcprm.2021028744. (in Russian)]

10. Gosudarstvennaya farmakopeya Rossijskoj Federatsii: Vyp. 4, 14-e izd. Moscow: Meditsina, 2018; 3262. (in Russian)]

11. Bradford M.M. A rapid and sensitive method for the quantitation of microgram quantities of protein utilizing the principle of protein-dye binding. Anal Biochem. 1976; 72: 248 254.

12. Olennikov D.N., Tankhaeva L.M. Modifikatsiya antronovogo metoda kolichestvennogo opredeleniya uglevodov i ego primenenie dlya analiza rastitel'nogo syr'ya, soderzhashchego polisakharidy. Bjyulleten' Sibirskoj Meditsiny. 2006; 2: 118–119. (in Russian)]

13. Zaks L. Statistical evaluation. Мoscow: Statistika; 1976. (in Russian)]

14. Rukovodstvo po eksperimental'nomu (doklinicheskomu) izuchenijyu novykh farmakologicheskikh veshchestv. R. U. Khabriev (ed.). Moscow: OAO «Izdatel'stvo «Meditsina», 2005; 832.

15. Sokolov D.N., Luzina O.A., Salakhutdinov N.F. Usnic acid: preparation, structure, properties and chemical transformations. Russian Chemical Reviews. 2012; 81 (8): 747–768. doi: https://doi.org/10.1070/RC2012v081n08ABEH004245.

16. Tsunoda A., Maassab H.F., Cochran K.W., Eveland W.C. Antiviral activity of alpha-methyl-1-adamantanemethylamine hydrochloride. Antimicrob Agents Chemother (Bethesda). 1965; 5: 553–60. doi: 10.1128/AAC.5.6.553.

17. Jefferson T., Jones M.A., Doshi P., Del Mar C.B., Hama R., Thompson M.J. et al. Neuraminidase inhibitors for preventing and treating influenza in healthy adults and children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014; 4: CD008965.