Antiviral Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Phyllanthus vasukii sp. nov. of the Family Phyllanthaceae

Abstract

The genus Phyllanthus is well known for its medicinal importance, particularly for antiviral and hepatoprotective properties. The present study aimed to evaluate the in vitro antiviral activity of ethanolic extracts of the root and aerial parts of Phyllanthus vasukii sp. nov. (Family: Phyllanthaceae), an endemic species from the Southern Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu, India. Antiviral efficacy was assessed against herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) using the MTT colorimetric assay in Vero cell lines, along with cytotoxicity evaluation. The ethanolic extracts exhibited detectable antiviral activity, with IC₅₀ values of 247.20 µg/ml for root extract and 122.26 µg/ml for aerial part extract. Both extracts showed partial inhibition of viral replication at higher concentrations and demonstrated significant cytotoxicity against Vero cells. The antiviral activity may be attributed to the presence of bioactive phytoconstituents such as flavonoids, phloroglucinol derivatives, sterols, and other secondary metabolites reported in Phyllanthus species. The findings suggest that P. vasukii possesses potential antiviral properties and supports its traditional medicinal relevance. Further studies are required to isolate, characterize, and elucidate the mechanism of action of the active compounds for possible pharmaceutical applications.