Enhancement of anti-hepatitis c virus activity by the combination of chalepin from ruta angustifolia and current antiviral drugs

Tutik Sri Wahyuni, Adita Ayu Permanasari, Aty Widyawaruyanti, Achmad Fuad Hafid, Hiroyuki Fuchino, Nobuo Kawahara, Hak Hotta

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a serious disease, which chronically infects 71 million people worldwide. Currently oral interferon (IFN)-free regimen usage involving a combination of direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) is capable of providing a sustained virologic response (SVR) of >90%. However, a number of DAA-resistant HCV strains have emerged and many patients do not have access to this therapy owing to its high cost. Combination drug therapy is one strategy for lowering cost and improving effectiveness of antiviral therapy. Chalepin from Ruta angustifolia is known to exhibit strong anti-hepatitis C activity. Anti-HCV efficacies of combinations of chalepin and current antiviral drugs, namely, cyclosporine A (CsA), daclatasvir (DCV). IFN-α, ribavirin (RBV), simeprevir (SMV), and telaprevir (TVR) were measured by treating HCV-infected cells in vitro. Chalepin enhanced anti-HCV activities of CsA, DCV, IFN-α, RBV, SMV, and TVR with a synergistic combination index of <1. The results suggest drug combinations that include chalepin should be considered when developing alternative and complementary medicine as anti-HCV agents.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)18-25
Number of pages8
JournalSoutheast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health
Volume51
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2020

Keywords

  • Chalepin
  • Combination drug treatment
  • Direct-acting antiviral
  • Hepatitis C virus
  • Ruta angustifolia

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