Screening of higher plants for biological activities. II. Antiviral activity.

Extracts prepared from 100 samples of higher plants were evaluated for antiviral activity against several viruses, including Semliki forest, coxsackie, measles, poliomyelitis, herpes, and adeno viruses. The plants were chosen from 73 genera and 43 families on the basis of literature data and medicinal reports on antimicrobial activity. The results of the antiviral testing showed that eight of these extracts exhibited a pronounced activity against one or more of the test viruses. Another three plant extracts showed a moderate level of antiviral activity against some of the test viruses.