Antiviral Activity of Cynometra ramiflora Linn Leaves Extract
Against Replication of Dengue Virus Serotype 2
on Huh 7.5 Cell In Vitro
Amry Irsyada Yusuf
1
, Beti Ernawati Dewi
2
and Fithriyah Sjatha
2*
1
Undergraduate Program, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia
2
Department of Microbiology, Fculty of Medcicine, Universitas Indonesia,Jl. Pegangsaan Timur no. 16 Jakarta 10320
Keywords: Antiviral, Cynometra ramiflora Linn, Dengue virus, Huh7.5 cells
Abstract: Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) remains a major world health problem particularly in Indonesia caused by
dengue virus (DENV) infection. Until now, there is no specific antiviral therapy for DENV and the
treatment for its infection is still supportive. The extract of Cynometra ramiflora Linn leaves known for
having potencies such as bactericide, analgesic, antiviral, anti-inflamation and anti-allergy. The objective of
this study is to assessed antiviral activity of C. ramiflora Linn leaves extract against DENV-2 in-vitro. The
potency of C. ramiflora Linn leaves extract at concentration of 1.25; 2.5; 5; 10 and 20 μg/ml towards DENV
was performed on Huh 7.5 cell infected by DENV-2 with moi of 0.5. Each treatment was repeated 6 times
compared with DMSO treated and infected DENV-2 cells as control. Inhibition rate of the extract against
DENV replication was measured using foci-forming immunoassay. Statistically, administration of C.
ramiflora Linn leaves extract at 1,25 ; 2,5 ;5 ; 10 and 20 μg/ml resulting 36,06 %, 45,96 %, 47,35%,
55,94%, 62,70% inhibition towards DENV-2 respectively, with significant value (p < 0,05). This result
showed that the extract of C. ramiflora Linn leaves has potency as anti-dengue.
1 INTRODUCTION
Dengue virus (DENV) infection as formed in
Dengue Fever (DF), Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever
(DHF) and Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS) are the
common infectious diseases mainly on tropical and
subtropical area, Pacific Islands, South and Central
America, North Australia nor Africa (Chan et al,
2009). Moektiwardoyo (2014) reported theres an
intention the raised of dengue cases in Indonesia
each year as the consequences of global warming.
Since 1968 until 2009, WHO recorded Indonesia as
a country with the highest dengue cases in South
East Asia region (Indonesia Minstry of Health,
2010). In 2009 it self in Indonesia there are 77.489
cases of dengue infection with 585 fatality
(Moektiwardoyo et al, 2014; Indonesia Ministry of
Health, 2010).
DENV belong to Flaviviridae family, divided in to 4
serotypes; DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3 and DENV-
4 which each serotype was grouped into several
genotypes. DENV genome composed of 11 kbp
nucleotides, encoding 3 structural (prM, C and E)
and 7 nonstructural (NS1, 2A, 2B, 3, 4A, 4B and 5)
proteins. DENV is transmitted through Aedes
albopictus and Aedes aegypti mosquito as vector
(Castro et al, 2015).
Several efforts are conducted against DENV
infection, such as vaccine development and vector
control. Although dengue vaccine is now limitedly
available, long term effiacy of this vaccine is remain
unclear. Until now, vector control was proven can
not be pefomed effectively nor giving a direct
impact to reduce DENV infection. Not like other
viral infection such as Human Immunodeficiency
Virus (HIV), influenza or Hepatitis viruses which
have anti-viral therapy, exact anti-DENV treatment
is not avalilable until now and refered to high
burden of DENV infection this anti-DENV is urgely
needed. Balancing haemostatic status is the only
cure available to overcome DENV infection in
patients.
Despite all of those efforts against DENV infection,
several research to find a novel anti dengue is also
progressing. Several plants as natural resources
found to have activity against DENV. Tang et al
198
Yusuf, A., Dewi, B. and Sjatha, F.
Antiviral Activity of Cynometra ramiflora Linn Leaves Extract Against Replication of Dengue Virus Serotype 2 on Huh 7.5 Cell In Vitro.
DOI: 10.5220/0008359901980201
In Proceedings of BROMO Conference (BROMO 2018), pages 198-201
ISBN: 978-989-758-347-6
Copyright
c
2018 by SCITEPRESS – Science and Technology Publications, Lda. All rights reserved
(2012) reported a methanol extract from Momordica
charantiia leaves and leaves extract of Ocimum
sanctum was able to inhibit DENV-1.
Other plant that also potential to be an antiviral is
Cynometra ramiflora Linn. Leaves of C.ramiflora
Linn was proven to have an antiviral capability and
antiseptic properties and widely applied for skin
diseases, such as scabies nor leprae infection
(Quattrocchi U et al, 2012). Several chemical
compounds were found in C. ramiflora Linn such as
flavonoids, tannin, alkaloid, phenolic and saponin
(Paguigan et al, 2014). Saponin was reported for
having a pharmachology activity such as
bactericidal, antiviral, cytotoxic, analgetic, anti-
inflamatory, anti-cancer and anti-allergy. Meanwhile
flavonoid was found to hegative effect against
prostaglandin as anti-analgetic agent (Afialus et al,
2013). Nevertheless, Cynometra ramiflora Linn is
widely distributed in India, Southeast Asia and
Australia (Globinmed, 2015, Hafidh et al., 2009).
With its promising properties as anti-DENV and its
abundancy worldwide, we assessed several
concentration of C.ramiflora Linn leaves estract
against DENV-2 in-vitro using Huh7.5 cell line. As
our result show that this extract have a good potency
as anti-DENV infection.
2 MATERIAL AND METHODS
2.1 Cell and Viruses
Huh7.5 hepatocarcinoma cell line was grown in
MEM containing 10% FBS and 1% of antimycotic-
antibiotic on 5% CO
2
at 37
o
C. DENV-2 NGC strain
was propagated in Huh7.5 cell line and viral titer
was measured with immunostaining formed as
FFU/mL (focus forming unit).
C.ramiflora Linn leaves extract was diluted in
Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as prepared from
Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI).
2.2 Antiviral Assay
A mixture of 1.25; 2.5; 5; 10 and 20 μg/ml
C.ramiflora Linn leaves extract was prepared using
2% of FBS MEM. Thus, extract mixture was applied
to a confluent Huh7.5 culture cell in 96 well plate
followed by addition of DENV-2 with m.o.i
(multiplicity of infection) value 0.5. Cells was then
incubate on 5% CO
2
at 37
o
C for 1 hour.
After 1 hour of incubation a semi-overlayed media
(MEM contain of 2% FBS and 0.5%
methylcellulose) was applied. Cells were then
incubated on 5% CO
2
at 37
o
C for 48 hours.
Groups of Huh7.5 cells with DMSO and DENV-2
infected were included on each experiment as
negative and positive control. Each group was
performed in 6 repetitive well.
2.3 Focus Forming Immunoassay
After incubation, supernatant was discarded and
cells were washed with excess PBS. A solution of
3.7% formaldehyde was added in to the cells and
incubated for 15 minutes. After incubation,
formaldehyde solution was discarded and cells were
washed vigorously with excess PBS.
Cells were then permeabilized with 0.5% Triton-x
solution for 15 minutes followed by 1:500 dengue
patient sera (confirmed with RT-PCR) in 1% skim
milk-PBS solution. This mixture was then incubate
for 1 h RT.
After incubation, antibody was discarded and cells
were then washed 3 times with excess PBS. A
solution of 1:500 rabbit anti-human IgG peroxidase
conjugated antibody was added in 1% skim milk-
PBS followed further incubation fr 1 h RT.
After incubation, antibody was discarded and cells
were then washed 3 times with excess PBS. A
solution of Diaminobenzidine (DAB) substrate was
then added in to the cells followed by incubation for
15 minutes at RT.
Stained group of cell will appear as brown color
under microscope represent as one viral foci.
Number of foci was calculated and statistical
analysis were performed compared to positive
control.
3 RESULT AND DISCUSSION
Our research show the potency of C.ramiflora Linn
leaves extract against DENV-2 in-vitro using culture
of Huh7.5 cell line. As we know DENV is an
arbovirus with cell tropism thus the use of Huh7.5
hepatocarcinoma cell line is a suitable cell line to be
used in dengue study (Blight et al, 2002). Antiviral
potency from C.ramiflora Linn leaves extract
against DENV-2 was ranged from 36.06%, 45.96%,
47.35%, 55.94% and 62.7% for each concentration
of 1.25; 2.5; 5; 10 and 20 µg/ml respectively. As
depicted from figure 1, significant DENV-2
inhibition compare to positive control was obtained
in p value < 0.05 for all concentration tested.
Antiviral Activity of Cynometra ramiflora Linn Leaves Extract Against Replication of Dengue Virus Serotype 2 on Huh 7.5 Cell In Vitro
199
Figure 1. Number of average FFU for each concentration of C.ramiflora Linn leaves extract against DENV-2 represent
with standard error of mean (SEM) and ** P < 0,001.
Based on phytochemical analysis, there are several
chemical compounds can be found in C.ramiflora
Linn leaves extract such as flavonoid, tannin,
alkaloids phenolic and saponin (Paguigan et al,
2014).
Lee et al (2012) reported that saponin has the ability
to inhibit Hepatitis-C virus replication through up-
regulation of cytokine signal-2. We are assuming
that saponin compound can also inhibit DENV
replication through similar mechanism towards Hep-
C virus, since both viruses belong to Flaviviridae
genera. Meanwhile triterpenoid saponin, derivate of
saponin, which also found in C.ramiflora Linn could
also inhibit Herpes simplex virus (Simos et al,
1999).
Flavonoid compound from Carica papaya can
inhibit DENV enzyme of NS2B-NS3 protease whic
required in viral assembly which those proteins also
a good target for viral inhibition (Sethivel et al,
2013). Further bioinformatic analysis shown that
flavonoid has high energitical bind against receptor
binding site of NS2B-NS3 DENV protein. Other
flavonoid deivate, quarcetin and fisetin also show
DENV-2 inhibition (Zandi et al, 2011).
Other compound like tannin was proved to be able to
inhibit HIV-1 and influenza virus through
decreasing viral peptide synthesis. Alkaloids
compound such as 33 isoquinoline have
antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral such as herpes
simplex virus (HSV) and parainfluenza virus on
varied concentration tested (Orhana et al, 2007). As
for phenolic compound, Ara et al (2011) shown that
this compund has anti replication DENV-2 activity
with IC
50
of 362,68+ 0,04 µg/ ml and SI of 2,75.
Our result show there are DENV inhibition in the
addition of C.ramiflora Linn leaves extract on cell
culture, although on which DENV replication steps
does the inhibition appear is still unknown.
Comparing similar study was performed by Meutia
et al, 2017 which also testing the C.ramiflora Linn
leaves extract against DENV2 in different mtehod
shows that direct and indirect measurement DENV
titer may give different result of inhibition value. On
the other hand, the existance of the extract during
cell incubation and extract removal just after viral
infection can produce different value of DENV
inhibition. Moreover form this both studies, in line
result was shown which C.ramiflora Linn leaves
extract have consistent ability to inhibit DENV
replication in vitro.
4 CONCLUSION
Our study shows that C.ramiflora Linn leaves
extract is having significant anti DENV activity.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Publication of this was study supported by Hibah
PITTA UI 2018/2019.
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