Seyed Ahmad Emami - Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Zahra Tayarani-Najaran - Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacological Research Centre of Medicinal Plants, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Masoud Sabouri Ghannad - Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
Pezhman Khajeh Karamadini - Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
Mehrangiz Khajeh Karamadini - Department of Microbiology, Quaem Medical Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Objective(s) The aim of this study was to search for new antiviral agents from herbal medicines. Ethanol extracts of C. semipervirens, C. semipervirens var. horizontalis and C. semipervirens cv. Cereiformis were used in experiments to test their influence on herpes viruses (HSV-۱). Materials and Methods HeLa cells monolayers were infected with herpes viruses (HSV-۱). Antiviral activity of the plant extracts assessed using Hematoxylin & Eosin method and observed under a light microscope. All tests were compared with a positive control, acyclovir. Results Results showed that all three plants have antiviral activity against HSV-۱ virus. The most active extract was the obtained extract from C. semipervirens. Among the different parts of this medicinal plant tested, the fruit’s extract appeared to possess the strongest anti- HSV activity. Conclusion In conclusion, of the extracts tested in this survey all showed significant antiviral potency.

Antiviral activity, Cupressus sempervirens, Cupressusaceae, HSV-۱