| Abstract: | Chilean flora is a potential source of bioactive compounds, including some with antiviral activity. Ninety aqueous and hydroaloholic extracts from 36 native and introduced plant species were screened for antiviral activity on herpes (HSV-1 and HSV-2) and HIV viruses. Furthermore, the samples were assayed for antimicrobial effect on pathogenic bacteria and a yeast. Plants were selected according to their indication of use for treating symptomatology of possible viral aetiology in Chilean folk medicine. The hydroaloholic extracts of Cassia stipulacea and Escallonia illintia exhibited detectable antiviral effects towards HSV-1 with IC50 values of 80 and 40 μg crude extract/mL, respectively. Samples belonging to Aristotelia chilensis (IC50 of 40 μg/mL), Drymis winteri (IC50 values of 35 and 80μg/mL), Elytropus chilensis and Luma apiculata, with an IC50 value of 100 μg/mL showed activity against HSV-2. None of the extracts showed activity against HIV at extract concentrations which were nontoxic for cells. |
