Ellagic acid inhibits HIV-1 infection in vitro: Potential role as a novel microbicide.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the in vitro effects of ellagic acid on HIV-1 replication. METHODS: Anti-HIV-1 activity of ellagic acid was determined in vitro using X4-tropic HIV-1NPO3 and R5-tropic pBaL Env-recombinant virus. Anti-HIV-1NPO3 activity of ellagic acid was investigated at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 0.01. Anti-HIV-1 integrase and protease activities of ellagic acid were tested using in vitro integration and proteolytic cleavage assays. RESULTS: Ellagic acid, added either before or after HIV-1NPO3 exposure, suppressed replication of the virus in C8166 cells up to 34%. Ellagic acid showed an anti-integrase IC50 of 8.7 µM. No cytotoxicity of ellagic acid at concentrations ranging from 12.5 to 100 µM was observed. CONCLUSION: We conclude that ellagic acid can inhibit HIV-1 infection without cytotoxicity. Thus, it may be a new effective agent that has potential to be developed as a novel microbicide against HIV-1.

Houttuynia cordata modulates oral innate immune mediators: potential role of herbal plant on oral health.

OBJECTIVE: Epithelial cells play an active role in oral innate immunity by producing various immune mediators. Houttuynia cordata Thunb (H. cordata), a herbal plant found in Asia, possesses many activities. However, its impacts on oral innate immunity have never been reported. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of H. cordata extract on the expression of innate immune mediators produced by oral epithelial cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Primary gingival epithelial cells (GECs) were treated with various concentrations of the extract for 18 h. The gene expression of hBD2, SLPI, cytokines, and chemokines was measured using quantitative real-time RT-PCR. The secreted proteins in the culture supernatants were detected by ELISA or Luminex assay. Cytotoxicity of the extract was assessed using CellTiter-Blue Assay. RESULTS: H. cordata significantly induced the expression of hBD2, SLPI, IL-8, and CCL20 in a dose-dependent manner without cytotoxicity. The secreted hBD2 and SLPI proteins were modulated, and the levels of IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, and IFN-γ were significantly induced by the extract. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicated that H. cordata can modulate oral innate immune mediators. These findings may lead to the development of new topical agents from H. cordata for the prevention and treatment of immune-mediated oral diseases.