ANTIVIRAL ACTIVITY OF EXTRACT OF CACTUS

摘要

The object of this invention is to provide a safe medicament from a cactus extract prepared from Opuntia streptacantha which will inhibit intracellular virus replication and inactivate extracellular virus. Intracellular inhibition of virus replication was also noted on pre-incubation of uninfected cells in medium containing cactus extract with removal of the extract prior to virus infection of cells. Inhibition of virus replication was obtained with both DNA and RNA viruses, for example herpes simplex virus of the herpesvirus group, influenza virus of the myxovirus group, respiratory syncytial virus of the paramyxovirus group and human immunodeficiency virus of the lentivirus group. There is evidence that the active inhibitory component(s) of the extract are protein in nature and reside mainly in the wall of the cactus plant rather than in the cuticle or inner sap.