Antiviral activity of ethanolic extract of Nilavembu Kudineer against dengue and chikungunya virus through in vitro evaluation

• Published in: Journal of ayurveda and integrative medicine 2020-07, Vol.11 (3), p.329-335
• Main Authors: Jain, Jaspreet, Kumar, Ankit, Narayanan, Vimal, Ramaswamy, R.S., Sathiyarajeswaran, P., Shree Devi, M.S., Kannan, M., Sunil, Sujatha
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Andrographis; Chikungunya virus (CHIKV); Dengue virus (DENV); In vitro; Nilavembu kudineer; Original (Experimental); Siddha
• ISSN: 0975-9476; 0976-2809
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jaim.2018.05.006

Currently, no vaccines or modern drugs are available for dengue and chikungunya and only symptomatic relief is provided to the patients. Siddha medicine, a traditional form of indigenous medical system uses specific polyherbal formulations for the treatment of such infections with considerable success. One such polyherbal formulation for the treatment of chikungunya and dengue is Nilavembu kudineer (NVK). The mechanistic details of this drug as an antiviral for chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and dengue virus (DENV) is poorly understood. The current study was undertaken to study the efficacy of NVK as an antiviral formulation against CHIKV and DENV. Cytotoxicity assays (MTT) were performed to determine the role of NVK as an antiviral during chikungunya and dengue infections in the following conditions-i). post infection, ii). during active infections and iii) protective, not allowing virus infection. It was observed that NVK provides protection against CHIKV and DENV-2 during active infection as well can help to prevent virus infection in the cells and it mainly depends on the cellular availability of drugs for maximum protection against both the infections. Our study establishes that extraction protocols are important to ensure maximum efficacy of NVK along with the time of addition of the drug during CHIKV and DENV infections in the cells. This study provides insights to the possible mode of action of NVK in in vitro condition during CHIKV and DENV infection. [Display omitted] •Andrographis is a major component of Nilavembu kudineer.•Andrographis is more cytotoxic when used singularly and hence is used as a polyherbal formulation.•Ethanol Extract of Nilavembu Kudineer (NVK) exhibit antiviral properties.•NVK has a prophylactic effect during chikungunya and dengue virus (CHIKV and DENV respectively) infection.•NVK exhibits antiviral activity during active CHIKV and DENV infections.