Antiviral activity of enzymatically oxidized caffeic acid against herpesvirus hominis type 1 and type 2.

The cytotoxicity and antiviral activity of the caffeic acid oxidation product (KOP), a higher molecular polyphenolic compound of strong antiviral activity against herpesvirus hominis type 1 and type 2 (HVH 1, HVH 2), were tested in 6 cell cultures: rabbit kidney primary cells (RKP), rabbit testis primary cells (RTP), primary human embryo lung fibroblasts (LF), calf testis primary cells (CTP), FL- and HEp-2 cells. A marked inhibitory effect on the multiplication of HVH 1 and 2 has been observed in all cell systems at non-cytotoxic concentrations of 0.1-20 micrograms/ml KOP. The adsorption of the virus to cell surface was the most KOP-sensitive phase of herpesvirus multiplication cycle.