Antiviral Effects of Three Chinese Herbal Medicine and Their Polysaccharides on Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) in vitro

In order to figure out the antiviral effects of Radix Isatidis,Astragalus herb,Artemisia annua and their polysaccharides on porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) in vitro,the antiviral activity of the three Chinese herbal medicine and their polysaccharides,Isatis root polysaccharide (IRPS),Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) and artemisinin maximum were evaluated by adding to Marc-145 cell cultured with PRRSV respectively.The results showed that the safety concentrations of IRPS,APS and artemisinin to Marc-145 cells were 0.03,0.03 and 0.06 mg/mL;The safety concentrations of Radix Isatidis,Astragalus herb,Artemisia annua to Marc-145 cells were 6.25,6.25 and 3.13 mg/mL.Almost all the cells (about 100%) were protected from PRRSV when Astragalus herb were added early to PRRSV,while IRPS had the same effect on PRRSV among three extracts with 48.03% cells were protect and artemisinin could not protect cells when the concentration was lower than 0.16 mg/mL.IRPS had no effect on PRRSV while APS and artemisinin got a protection rate for cells at about 20% when simultaneously added with PRRSV,under the concentration of 0.32 mg/mL.In terms of simultaneously added with PRRSV,Chinese herb Astragalus could exterminate the virus directly with its protect cells coming to 100% and more.Artemisia annua could promote the growth of cells but its stability was weak.Its protection rate decreased as its concentration reducing.In the experiment of exploring the antivirus effect of infected cells,polysaccharides of these three herbs had nearly the same effect.When in a concentration of 0.01 mg/mL,IRPS,APS and artemisinin respectively protected 24.57%,24.30% and 26.20% cells.However,the protection rate to cells of the three herbs themselves was respectively up to 100% or more.In conclusion,in the extracts of the three herbs,APS had the best antiviral effect,followed by artemisinin and IRPS,and in the single herbal medicines,Astragalus was the best and Artemisia annua was worst.Therefore,Astragalus and APS had the best antiviral effect on PRRSV.It needed more research on Astragalus and APS,and try to use them as antiviral drug in clinical application.