Antiviral effect of plant-based drug on flu virus production in human fetal lung fibroblasts culture

Introduction . The number of complications in flu and acute respiratory viral infection, especially during epidemics, reaches 20–30%. The main causes of complications are immune protection disorders, leading to a sharp decrease in the antibacterial  resistance of the body. Of particular importance is the prevention and treatment of flu in risk groups, especially in young children and elderly people. Aim of the study . Experimental study of possible antiinfluenza action of plant-based antiviral drug (EPs 7630) on the model of influenza A virus adapted to the human fetal lung fibroblast culture in conditions as close as possible to the lung tissue lesion in influenza infection. Materials and methods . The drug (EPs 7630) in the form of 11% solution in ethanol was diluted with sterile nutrient medium for application in the culture medium in the appropriate concentration. Transformed diploid culture of human fetal lung fibroblasts was used. Before the research 10 passages of the culture were made using growth medium with 10% embryonic bovine serum. Influenza virus A/Aichi/1/68 (H3N2) was also used, which was preliminarily adapted to the reproduction of human fetal lung fibroblasts in the cell culture. The cytotoxicity of the drug and its antiviral activity regarding the influenza virus were studied. Results. The presence of the drug in the human fetal lung fibroblasts culture in 3 tested concentrations had dose-dependent antiviral effect on the production of influenza virus A/Aichi/1/68 (H3N2), which also depends on the multiplicity of infection and the scheme of the drug use. Conclusion. The obtained data indicate that in case of low multiplicity of infection, the preparation has both preventive and therapeutic antiviral effect on the reproduction of influenza virus. The combination of antiviral and immunomodulatory action determines the bifunctionality of the drug, which contributes both to the suppression and elimination of influenza virus from the organ – the target and the body as a whole, and increase its non-specific congenital resistance, which makes it possible to consider the plant-based drug (EPs 7630) as the preferred tool in the prevention and comprehensive treatment of influenza and other respiratory viral infections in children and adults.