HEALTH NEWS

Study Title:

Nobiletin and Tangeretin Disrupt Respiratory Virus

Study Abstract

The present study found that the supercritical fluid extract of "Guangchenpi" possessed in vitro antiviral activity against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Bioassay-guided isolation and identification of this extract led to obtain five active polymethoxylated flavones (1-5). Cytopathic effect (CPE) reduction assay exhibited tangeretin (2) and nobiletin (3), two major polymethoxylated flavones in the extract, possessed better anti-RSV effect comparable to the positive control ribavirin. Plaque reduction assay revealed that tangeretin dose-dependently inhibited RSV-induced plaque formation on the HEp-2 cells. This polymethoxylated flavone mainly affected the intracellular replication of RSV, and it also could inhibit RSV entry into the HEp-2 cells. Further investigations with quantitative real-time PCR, confocal and western blot assays indicated that tangeretin downregulated the expression of RSV phosphoprotein (P protein). Results suggest the potential application of the supercritical fluid extract of "Guangchenpi" and tangeretin in the treatment and the prevention of RSV infection.

Study Information

Xu JJ, Wu X, Li MM, Li GQ, Yang YT, Luo HJ, Huang WH, Chung HY, Ye WC, Wang GC, Li YL.
Antiviral Activity of Polymethoxylated Flavones from "Guangchenpi", the Edible and Medicinal Pericarps of Citrus reticulata 'Chachi'
J Agric Food Chem.
2013 December