[Study on the Rheum palmatum volatile oil against HBV in cell culture in vitro].

The antiHBV effect of Rheum palmatum Volatile oil was studied by using 2215 cell line transfected with HBV DNA. At the same time MTT method was applied for the detection of cytoxicity of drugs, selecting acyclovir(ACV) as control medicine. It turns out that the toxic concentration of Rheum palmatum Volatile oil for 50% cells was (CD50) > 1.25 x 10(-1) g/L. When concentration was below 0.625 x 10(-1) g/L, the survival rate of cells was over 90%. The maximum inhibitory rates for HBsAg and HBeAg were 70.71 +/- 5.4% and 30.99 +/- 5.3% respectively. This shows Rheum palmatum Volatile oil possesses the effect of antiHBV in vitro.