Synergistic action of quercetin and murine alpha/beta interferon in the treatment of Mengo virus infection in mice.

ABD2F1 mice were infected intraperitoneally (i.p.) or intranasally (i.n.) with Mengo or Sindbis virus and treated with either crude murine alpha/beta interferon (MuIFN-alpha/beta) or quercetin, or both. MuIFN-alpha/beta given i.p. or intramuscularly (i.m.) 1-3 h before the infection had a dose-dependent protective effect regardless of the route of administration. When given after the infection, IFN did not show any effect. Oral quercetin, capable of protecting cardio, i.e. Mengo virus-infected mice, failed to show antiviral efficacy in Sindbis virus-infected animals. Of various combinations of quercetin and MuIFN-alpha/beta, a certain well defined regimen resulted in a significant enhancement of protection in Mengo, but not Sindbis, virus-infected mice. A marginally effective treatment regimen of quercetin (20 mg/kg, given 12 h before Mengo virus infection, and 10 mg/kg given both 1 h before and 12 h after infection) potentiated the activity of a single dose of MuIFN-alpha/beta (5000 IU 3 h prior to infection), giving 85-100% survivors compared to 50% for MuIFN-alpha/beta when applied alone (p less than 0.001).