Abstract
As an effort to explore new antiviral agents from natural products, 14 herbal medicines from Taiwan, which are traditionally used for the treatment of various diseases such as infection, gastric ulcer, edema, and rheumatism, etc., were tested for its anti-HSV-2 activity. Among them, only Cinnamomum insularimontanum Hay., Pinus massoniana Lamb., Plantago major Linn., and Uranaia crinita Desvaux. exhibited significant antiviral activity. The 50% inhibition concentration (IC 50) of C. insularimontanum, P. massoniana, U. crinita, and P. major was 180 ± 30, 250 ± 40, 350 ± 50, and 852 ± 50µg/ml, respectively, whereas the 50% cell cytotoxic concentration (CC 50) was 2210 ± 270, 1510 ± 180, 590 ± 70, and 1809 ± 200µg/ml, respectively. The selectivity index was in the range of 1.18-12.28. Thus, C. insularimontanum, P. major, P. massoniana, and U. crinita were concluded to possess anti-HSV-2 activity. Keywords: Herbal medicines, Cinnamomum insularimontanum Hay., Plantago major Linn., Pinus massoniana Lamb., Uranaia crinita Desvaux., anti-HSV-2 activity.