Antiviral and Virucidal Activities of Umesu Phenolics on Influenza Viruses

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Abstract
Umesu phenolics were purified from the salt-extracts of Japanese apricot (Nanko-mume cultivar of Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc.). Characterization of umesu phenolics revealed that they inhibited the multiplication of influenza virus and several other RNA and DNA viruses, when added to the culture media of the infected cells. In addition to these antiviral activities, the phenolics significantly decreased a plating efficiency of influenza virus, if present in the virus inoculum. More drastic effects were observed in virucidal activity; the infectivity of several strains of influenza viruses decreased less than 0.001 when they were incubated with 4 mg/ml phenolics at 30℃ for 5 min. The virucidal activity of phenolics was found to be more remarkable in acidic conditions, but the activity was not merely a result of the acidity of the phenolics. These results clearly indicate the antiviral and virucidal activities of the umesu phenolics against influenza viruses and suggest their potential pharmacological usefulness as a disinfectant or preventive medicine against superficial infections, such as the respiratory infection.

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