[Plants as a source of research in antiviral activity. Example of the Haemanthus albiflos bulb].

The antiviral potency of an hydroalcoholic extract from Haemanthus albiflos (AMARYLLIDACEAE) bulb was investigated. Experimentations were conducted on continuous cell lines (BGM, MA 104, Hep 2) seeded in microplates. Three viruses from the RNA group (Poliovirus type I, Vesicular Stomatitis Virus type 11 and Simian Rotavirus SA 11) and two from the DNA group (Adenovirus type 5, Herpes Simplex Virus type 1) were tested. Important reduction in yield of viral infectivity was observed with the RNA group (respectively 6,4 and 4,5 logarithmic units order of magnitude).