Anti-rotavirus effects of genipin in in-vitro model

Abstract

   Rotavirus is the major cause of acute gastroenteritis in children worldwide. So far, there has been no specific medicine of the treatment of this virus. Genipin is a chemical compound found in the natural fruit of gardenia and has been reported to be an excellent traditional oriental medicine that produces various pharmacological functions such as anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, anti-microbial, and anti-tumor effects. In this study, genipin compound was tested as a natural drug in activities of anti-rotavirus in in-vitro model. The potential cytotoxicity of the genipin against the MA104 cells was evaluated at ≥150μM/ml. Genipin titer used in this study ranged from 10 to 150μM/ml. Anti-rotavirus effects of genipin compared to controls are as follow: pre-treated RVs before and before/after infection reduced RVs infectivity by 28.7-54.1% and 47.3-90.0%; treated MA104 cells after infection reduced RVs infectivity by 0-66%; pre-treated MA104 cells before and before/after infection reduced RVs infectivity by 27.3-71.8% and 54.1-90%. These results suggested that genipin can be used as a natural and safe drug to inhibit rotavirus infection.