Comparison of the Antiviral Activity of Aqueous and Alcoholic Extracts of Cyanobacteria Collected From Iranian South Oil

The antimicrobial properties of cyanobacteria was recently highlighted. The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity and antiviral properties of cyanobacteria collected from oil-polluted areas of southern Iran.

In the present study، aqueous and methanolic extracts of five species ofcyanobacteria were prepared. Cytotoxic effects ofcyanobacteria on (lymphoblast cell line) LCL and Hela cell lineswere evaluated. Using MTT assay and medium only served as a negative control group. Hela and LCL cells also infected by human papilloma virus (HPV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) respectively and were exposed to the cyanobacteria extracts to examine the anti-viral effects of extracts. DNA was extracted and the viral gene encoding envelope was also carried out by PCR. The samples were assessed in order to examinethat viruses are capable of successfully infecting and lysing embedded colonies. The data were analyzed using Two-way ANOVA tests.

The results indicated that cyanobacteria extract had cytotoxic effects on LCL and HeLa cell lines. In addition viral load gene was significantly decreased in treated cells.

According to the significant antiviral effects of alcoholic and aqueous extracts of cyanobacteria. These extracts may used for a variety of viral therapies.