The invention relates to antiviral compositions of matter containing as active ingredient hypericin or pseudohypericin. The novel compositions are of special use in the treatment of, and alleviation of symptoms of various diseases caused by viruses such as vesicular stomatitis, influenza, herpes simplex, HSV-1 and HSV-2. The mode of activity seems to be by inhibition of RNA synthesis and interfering with virus replication. The pharmaceutical compositions can be applied by a variety of routes. Topical applications have proved to be effective against a variety of viral afflictions.
A method of allophycocyanin inhibition of enterovirus and influenza virus reproduction resulting in cytopathic effect, with the ingredients utilized including allophycocyanin, wherein a virus and cell culture is first cultivated in an incubator containing a culture medium solution and following cell preparation, the virus suspension of the preparation is quantitatively determined and an antiviral pharmaceutical inhibition concentration determination procedure is utilized for pharmaceutical neutralization experiments, the results indicating that allophycocyanin possesses enterovirus neutralization capability; furthermore, utilizing ingredients including allophycocyanin as the primary ingredient, virus and cells are first cultivated in an incubator containing a culture medium solution and following a virus plaque inhibition assay, the results indicate that allophycocyanin possesses influenza virus reproduction inhibition capability.
A method of preventing and treating a viral condition caused by an enveloped virus is described, comprising using a therapeutically effective amount of a compound selected from the group consisting of a substituted hydroquinone and the corresponding benzoquinone, wherein said hydroquinone comprises a 2-R.sup.1, 3-R.sup.2 -1,4-hydroquinone where at least one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 include a carbon linkage to the benzene ring of the hydroquinone. Particularly useful compounds include 5,8-dihydro-5,8-methano-1,4-naphthalenediol, 1,4-naphthoquinone, 3', 6'-dihydroxybenzo-norbornane, tert-butylhydroquinone, other diols, e.g. 1,5-naphthalenediol, and alkylated diols, e.g. 4-methoxy-1-naphthol.
T cell-mediated diseases in mammals are treated using compositions comprising a polycyclic aromatic compound, preferably hypericin or pseudohypericin, and related compounds, including isomers, analogs, derivatives, salts, or ion pairs of hypericin or pseudohypericin. The above composition may be administered in combination with an immunosuppressive agent. Pharmaceutical compositions useful for treating a T cell-mediated disease comprise the above polycyclic aromatic compound, alone or in combination with an immunosuppressive agent. The compositions and methods are useful in treating diseases which include multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, scleroderma, polymyositis, graft-versus-host disease, graft rejection, Graves disease, Addison's disease, autoimmune uveoretinitis, autoimmune thyroiditis, pemphigus vulgaris and rheumatoid arthritis. Psoriasis and systemic lups erythematosus. Also provided are methods for diminishing the expression of CD4 Molecules on the surface of a T lymphocyte, and for inducing multidrug resistance in a cell, comprising incubating the cell with an effective concentration of a polycyclic aromatic compound.
The use of extracts from the plant Hypericum perforatum in the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of hepatitis C, chronic hepatitis C and related viruses, said pharmaceutical compositions comprising at least one extract of the plant Hypericum perforatum and optionally in addition, one or more pharmaceutically acceptable inactive components, selected from, carriers, coatings, diluents and adjuvants.
The use of extracts from the plant Hypericum perforatum in the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of hepatitis C, chronic hepatitis C and related viruses, said pharmaceutical compositions comprising at least one extract of the plant Hypericum perforatum and optionally in addition, one or more pharmaceutically acceptable inactive components, selected from, carriers, coatings, diluents and adjuvants.
