This present study aimed to investigate the potential stems and leaves methanolic extract of Kyllinga nemoralis as an antiviral agent against Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 (HSV-1). The leaves and stems of K. nemoralis methanolic extract were assessed in the cytotoxicity test using the MTT assays. The plaque reduction assay was evaluated in the post-treatment assay, pre-treatment assay, virucidal assay, time-addition test, and time-removal test. Cytotoxicity screening of stems and leaves of K. nemoralis against Vero cells shows that the cytotoxicity concentration of 50% of cell viability (CC50) values was 0.75 mg/mL, which indicates that K. nemoralis is non-cytotoxic and safe. The antiviral assay provides a Selective Index (SI) value (CC50/EC50) to determine the good SI for antiviral activity. In post-treatment, the SI value for this extract against HSV-1 was 8.33. In pre-treatment, the SI value for this extract was 21.43. In the virucidal test, the SI value for this extract was 24.19 mg/mL. In the time addition assay, the plaque inhibition reached 43% when the extract was added at 2 h.p.i, and it dropped to 15% at 10 h.p.i. In the time removal assay, the plaque inhibition reached 50% after the extract was removed at 2 h.p.i., and it increased to 87% at 24 h.p.i. This study showed that K. nemoralis has potential as a drug used to fight herpes infections.
Key words: Kyllinga nemoralis, Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 (HSV-1), cytotoxicity, antiviral.
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