Efecto de Phyllanthus orbicularis sobre la viabilidad celular y el antígeno de superficie de la hepatitis B en células PLC/PRF/5

the antiviral activity of phyllanthus orbicularis, an endemic cuban plant, against the hepatitis b virus was evaluated in vitro. the ability of the aqueous extract and 2 tannin- and flavonoid-rich chemical fractions (aqueous-acetic and buthanolic) to inhibit the hepatitis b surface antigen (hbsag) production was determined in plf/prc/5 cellas, a human hepatoma cell line that constitutively expresses this antigen. the aqueous extract was effective in inhibiting the hbsag at 24 and 48 hours of treatment, being the selective index (si) above 10, with concentration-dependent inhibitory activity. the evaluation of the inhibitory action of the two fractions from the plant proved that both were effective and their selective indexes were also higher than 10. these results indicated the inhibitory activity against hbsag of the plant and the presence of phenolic compounds that could reduce the antigen production. this may contribute to an in vivo antiviral action. this paper also corroborated the antiviral potential of the aqueous extract from phyllanthus orbicularis kunth, in addition to supporting the use of plc/prf/5 for future evaluations or trials directed towards assessing the anti-hepatitis b activity of various products. likewise, it paved the way for the detection of the chemical component(s) responsible for the plant's action against hepatitis b virus.