Anti-viral activity of Cassia fistula against IBR virus

Cassia fistula Linn, a semi-wild Indian labrum has been shown its antibacterial, antifungal, antineoplastic and anti inflamatory activity. In present study antiviral activity of aqueous hot extract of pods and leaves of Cassia fistula was tested against infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) virus, a member of herpes virus group. Maximum non toxic dose of both extracts using MDBK cell line was determined and found to be 5mg/ml. IBR virus was titrated for its infective dose in MDBK cell line and 50% tissue culture infective dose (TCID50) was determined. Antiviral activity of Cassia fistula was assayed by using different concentrations of non toxic doses of both the extracts against 10TCID50 dose of IBR virus in MDBK cell line. Cytopathic effect was observed by microscopic examination and confirmed by using MTT dye up take assay. In this preliminary study, it has been concluded that pod aqueous hot extract of Cassia fistula pods showed dose dependent anti IBR virus activity, while hot aq. extract of leaves has no effect on IBR virus.