Abstract:

Objective  To investigate the antiviral effect against coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) and inhibition of cardiomyocyte apoptosis of the Traditional Chinese herb—Qishaowuweizi compound (QSW). Methods  The cytopathic effect(CPE) was observed in an in vitro antiviral experiment, with Ribavirin, a broad-spectrum antiviral drug, as the control. Male BALB／c mice were randomly divided into the virus control group, the QSW-treatment group and the Vit C plus ribavirin treatment group. The mice were infected with CVB3 to prepare a viral myocarditis model. They were sacrificed on experimental days 7, 14 and 21. The cardiac pathologic changes were checked by a light microscope and CVB3 RNA copy numbers by real-time quantitative PCR. Cardiomyocyte apoptosis and necrosis were detected by flowcytometry (FCM). Results  The maximum atoxic concentration of QSW in vitro was 19 ~53g／L. The CPE was more  effectively attenuated by QSW than by Ribavirin in different administration groups in vitro. Compared with the virus control group, the QSW-treatment group had alleviated cardiac pathologic changes, decreased CVB3 RNA copy numbers, and lower cardiomyocyte apoptosis and necrosis ratios (all P<0.05).  Conclusion  The qishaowuweizi compound has heart-protective effect in treating viral myocarditis through inhibiting cardiomyocyte apoptosis.

Key words: Viral myocarditis; Coxsackievirus B3; Traditional Chinese herb; Apoptosis