Antiviral activity of a nanoemulsion of polyprenols from ginkgo leaves against influenza A H3N2 and hepatitis B virus in vitro.

In order to improve the bioavailability levels of polyprenols (derived from ginkgo leaves (GBP)) in the human body, a GBP nanoemulsion was prepared, and its antiviral activity was evaluated against influenza A H3N2 and hepatitis B virus in vitro.

METHODS

A GBP nanoemulsion was prepared by inversed-phase emulsification (IPE). Next, we investigated the antiviral activity of the GBP nanoemulsion on influenza A H3N2 and hepatitis B virus in vitro by the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenlytetrezolium bromide) method. ELISA and the fluorescent quantitative PCR method were used to measure the content of HBsAg, HBeAg and DNA virus in human samples.

RESULTS

The GBP nanoemulsion exhibited uniformity at an average particle size 97 nm with a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) of 9.5. GBP is non-toxic to normal cells, hepatitis B virus DNA, hepatitis B virus antigen and HepG2215. Furthermore, GBP could reach a 70% virucidal activity and a 74.9% protection rate (*** p < 0.001) on MDCK cells infected with H3N2 virus at a high concentration of 100 μg/mL. GBP had a good inhibition rate on HBsAg (52.11%, ** p < 0.01) at 50 μg/mL and Day 9 of incubation, and a 67.32% inhibition effect on HBeAg at a high concentration of 100 μg/mL and Day 9. GBP had good inhibition on HBV DNA with CT 18.6 and lower copies (** p < 0.01) at a middle concentration of 12.5 to 25 μg/mL.

CONCLUSIONS

The GBP nanoemulsion was very stable and non-toxic and had very strong antiviral activity against influenza A H3N2 and hepatitis B virus in vitro. The inhibitory effects and reactive mechanisms were similar to the drug, 3TC; by lengthening the incubation time and increasing the drug concentration, GBP has promising potential as an antiviral drug.