[Effects of Alternanthera philoxeroides Griseb against respiratory syncytial virus infection in mice].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of an oral preparation of Alternathera philoxeroides Griseb (APG) against respiratory syncytical virus (RSV) in mice.

METHODS

APG preparation was administered orally in RSV-infected mice at different daily doses (2.5, 4.5 and 6.5 g/kg) to observe the therapeutic effect of the preparation.

RESULTS

Distinct differences were observed between the death rate of the mice treated with APG at daily dose of 4.5 and 6.5 g/kg and that of the untreated mice with infection. After AGP treatment of the mice at 6.5 g/kg, the detection rate of the virus was 31.3% in the blood and 37.5% in the lung tissue, significantly lower than that in the untreated mice. The virus detection rate was 43.8% in the lung tissues of mice treated with APG at 4.5 g/kg, also significantly lower than that in the untreated control. APG treatment at the 3 doses resulted in different lung indices from that of the control.

CONCLUSIONS

APG may be effective for treatment of RSV infection.