Technologies

For the past half a century, alternative therapies to diseases have been increasingly sought in the US and globally. A 2002 study estimated 19 percent of adults used a botanical therapy to treat illnesses or conditions and that number seems to be rising. Isolating the active compounds of many botanicals offers novel treatment possibilities for a myriad of medical conditions.

Melissa officinalis is an herb that has been traditionally used for a variety of medical purposes, with usage mostly centered on stress and anxiety reduction but also for GI tract disorders and herpes simplex virus (HSV).

Researchers at Arizona State University have isolated extracts of Melissa officinalis and developed compositions with modified active compounds for antiviral applications. The initial therapeutic focus for the extracts was on treating HSV, but inventors found that it showed promising activity against an Ebola-VSV chimera virus, and has great potential for other viruses as well. Active compounds of the extract were isolated and modified so that their antiviral abilities could be increased. The extracts and compositions appear to inhibit virus attachment to the cell and reduce viral infection via the heparin-sulfate proteoglycan receptor. Results from early studies show the compositions to have an IC50 of 65-90µM, but IC50 values as low as 25µM can be obtained with certain modifications.

These extracts and compositions represent novel therapeutics for multiple viruses including members of the herpes virus family and filovirus family and could be developed as stand-alone or combination therapeutics.