Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran
2 MD, Shahed University
3 Assistant Professor, Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahed University, Tehran. Iran
4 Assistant Professor, Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Herpes simlex virus causes various infections such as cold sore, encephalitis, keratoconjunctivitis and many other infections. In some cases, these diseases may lead to the patient's death. Myrtus communis L. essential oil is used in traditional medicine since antiquity. In this study, we have evaluated the effect of the Myrtus communis essential oil at various concentrations on the infection caused by the Herpes simplex 1 virus in mice. The HSV-1 virus was reproduced in cell culture and then its titer was determined in terms of PFU/ml. PFU of 10-6 of the virus dilution was used to infect mice. After shaving hair on body sides of the animals, a scratch was created by the needle and five micro liters of the 10-6 PFU was inoculated onto the scratch. The mice were divided into five member groups. Tree groups were treated with 5, 10 and 15 mg/ml concentration of the Myrtus communis essential oil, the fourth was the control group that was treated with the vaselin (free from the medicine). The fifth and sixth groups were treated with commercial Myrtoplex and Asiclovir ointments. The mice were treated for 10 days and probable deaths and wounds were examined. The time of initiation and development of wounds or deaths in the experimental and those of the control groups were recorded. Results obviously showed the creation of vesicles in the group treated with Myrtus communis essential oil (5, 10 and 15 mg/ml) was delayed as compared to the control group (vaselin). The results also clearly show a delay in the creation of pustules in the group treated with Myrtus communis essential oil at 15 mg/ml concentration as compared to the group treated at 5mg/ml and 10 mg/ml concentrations (P=0.001). This study show that Myrtus communis essential oil at 15mg/ml concentration delays the creation of pustules that could be used in control or treatment of herpes simplex.
Keywords
)