Herpes simplex virus (HSV) primarily causes infections of the oral–facial, ocular or genital mucosa with high worldwide prevalence. The aim of this study is to evaluate antiviral properties of Citrus sinensis peel aqueous extract against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) in vitro. HSV-infected Vero cells and cell-free virus suspensions were treated with orange peel extracts, and virus yield and infectivity were quantified by direct plaque assay. The results of the present study showed that C. sinensis peel aqueous extract, at 150 µg/ml provided 71.3% inhibition of plaque of HSV-1. The aquous extract showed 100% inhibition against HSV-1 at 200, 250 and 300 µg/ml. These properties suggest that this C. sinensis peel could provide advantage as a topical prophylactic/therapeutic agent for herpes infections.
Orange peel, Herpes simplex virus, Antiviral
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