This study examined the anti-HSV-1 activity of EPS extracts isolated from mangrove fungus Paecilomyces Lilacinuson after intraperitoneal administration in mice. Mice were experimentally infected with HSV-1 intracranially and treated intraperitoneally with three different doses of EPS extract (6 g/Kg, 8 g/Kg, and 10 g/Kg) for 7 days. One group of 15 mice was infected with HSV-1 but did not receive any treatment, while another group of 15 mice was mock-infected to remain a control group. Animals were observed twice a day for 14 days after virus infection, searching for clinical signs of weight loss, piloerection, isolation, or retardation movement. Compared with the mock-infected group, mortality was significantly increased (p < 0.05) in the virus-infected group and the groups that received 6 g/Kg and 8 g/Kg EPS extract. Interestingly, no significant differences in mortality were found between the 10 g/Kg EPS extract and the mock-infected group. Mortality in the 10 g/Kg EPS extract group was substantially improved compared with virus-infected(p < 0.05). Additionally, EPS extracts inhibited HSV-1 replication in the mice brain in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the extracts decreased NF-κB protein and mRNA expression and the production of TNF-α in HSV-1-infected mice brain tissue. These effects were also dose-dependent. Our findings suggest that the EPS extract may be a potential candidate for developing an antiviral drug against HSV-1.

本研究检测了从红树林真菌Paecilomyces Lilacinuson中分离的 EPS 提取物在小鼠腹膜内给药后的抗 HSV-1 活性。小鼠在颅内实验性感染 HSV-1，并用三种不同剂量的 EPS 提取物（6 g/Kg、8 g/Kg 和 10 g/Kg）腹膜内治疗 7 天。一组 15 只小鼠被 HSV-1 感染但未接受任何治疗，而另一组 15 只小鼠被模拟​​感染以保持对照组。病毒感染后每天观察动物两次，持续 14 天，寻找体重减轻、毛发竖立、隔离或运动迟缓的临床迹象。与模拟感染组相比，死亡率显着增加（p < 0.05）在病毒感染组和接受 6 g/Kg 和 8 g/Kg EPS 提取物的组中。有趣的是，10 g/Kg EPS 提取物和模拟感染组之间的死亡率没有显着差异。与病毒感染相比，10 g/Kg EPS 提取物组的死亡率显着提高（p < 0.05）。此外，EPS 提取物以剂量依赖性方式抑制小鼠大脑中的 HSV-1 复制。此外，提取物降低了 HSV-1 感染小鼠脑组织中 NF-κB 蛋白和 mRNA 的表达以及 TNF-α 的产生。这些影响也是剂量依赖性的。我们的研究结果表明，EPS 提取物可能是开发针对 HSV-1 的抗病毒药物的潜在候选者。