Interactions between cyclodextrins and cellular components: Towards greener medical applications?

Leclercq, Loïc

Another common viral disease is caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV) leading to several distinct medical disorders including orofacial and genital herpes or encephalitis [157] . In this context, the anti-HSV properties of native CDs (α-and β-CD) have been estimated against HSV-1 and HSV-2 [158] . The antiviral properties were clearly dependent on the cavity size: α-CD exhibited no significant antiherpetic activity, while, under similar conditions, β-CD reduced both the cell-free and cell-associated virus more effectively than acyclovir (i.e., antiherpetic drug). Indeed, the results reveal an almost complete protection of Vero cells against acyclovir-sensitive and acyclovir-resistant strains of HSV. The ability of β-CD to impede virus replication is proposed as antiviral mechanism.