Observations placeholder
Figs and anti-viral activity
Identifier
012381
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
If you eat the fruit, you eat the latex.
Echovirus is highly infectious, and its primary target is children. The echovirus is among the leading causes of acute febrile illness in infants and young children, and is the most common cause of aseptic meningitis. Infection of an infant with this virus following birth may cause severe systemic diseases, and is associated with high infant mortality rates. The echovirus can mimic symptoms caused by other common bacterial and viral infections.
Most infections with adenovirus result in infections of the upper respiratory tract. Adenovirus infections often show up as conjunctivitis, tonsilitis (which may look exactly like strep throat and cannot be distinguished from strep except by throat culture), an ear infection, or croup. Adenoviruses, types 40 and 41 can also cause gastroenteritis. A combination of conjunctivitis and tonsilitis is particularly common with adenovirus infections. Some children (especially small ones) can develop adenovirus bronchiolitis or pneumonia, both of which can be severe. In babies, adenoviruses can also cause coughing fits that look almost exactly like whooping cough. Adenoviruses can also cause viral meningitis or encephalitis. Rarely, adenovirus can cause hemorrhagic cystitis (inflammation of the urinary bladder—a form of urinary tract infection — with blood in the urine).
A description of the experience
Nat Prod Res. 2011 Feb;25(3):310-9. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2010.528758.
In vitro cytotoxic and antiviral activities of Ficus carica latex extracts.
Lazreg Aref H1, Gaaliche B, Fekih A, Mars M, Aouni M, Pierre Chaumon J, Said K.
- 1Laboratoire de Génétique, Biodiversité et Valorisation des Bio Ressources, UR 03ES09, Institut Supérieur de Biotechnologie, 5000 Monastir, Tunisie.
Abstract
The latex of fig fruit (Ficus carica) is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of skin infections such as warts and also diseases of possible viral origin.
Five extracts (methanolic, hexanic, ethyl acetate, hexane-ethyl acetate (v/v) and chloroformic) of this species were investigated in vitro for their antiviral potential activity against herpes simplex type 1 (HSV-1), echovirus type 11 (ECV-11) and adenovirus (ADV). To evaluate the capacity of the extracts to inhibit the replication of viruses, the following assays were performed: adsorption and penetration, intracellular inhibition and virucidal activity. Observation of cytopathic effects was used to determine the antiviral action.
The hexanic and hexane-ethyl acetate (v/v) extracts inhibited multiplication of viruses by tested techniques at concentrations of 78 µg mL(-1). These two extracts were possible candidates as herbal medicines for herpes virus, echovirus and adenovirus infectious diseases. All extracts had no cytotoxic effect on Vero cells at all tested concentrations.
PMID: 21294043
The source of the experience
PubMedConcepts, symbols and science items
Concepts
Symbols
Science Items
Activities and commonsteps
Activities
Overloads
CroupEncephalitis
Herpes simplex
Intestine disease
Lung disease
Meningitis
Mouth and tooth disease
Pneumonia
Stomach disease
Viral infection
Suppressions
Blindness, macular degeneration and other sight impairmentBrain damage
Figs