Anti-viral Activity of Arbidol Hydrochloride Against Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Vitro

Objective: To study the antiviral activity of Arbidol hydrochloride on respiratory syncytial virus(RSV) Long strain in vitro.Methods: Anti-RSV effects were investigated by observing cytopathic effect(CPE) with MTT colorimetric assay.Results: The median cell inhibitory(TD_(50)) of Arbidol was 85.39 mg/L and at its concentration of 25 mg/L, the viral inhibitory rates were up to 81.61%,(79.57%,) 40.39% and 78.60% respectively in antiviral biological synthesis group,directly-killing-virus group and interfering-in-viral-absorption groups(pretreated cells with Arbidol for four and eight hours respe-ctively).The corresponding median efficacious(EC_(50)) concentrations of Arbidol(against) RSV in the four groups were 11.52,(8.74,)(25.36) and 10.40 mg/L,respectively.(Conclusion:) Arbidol could significantly inhibit cytopathic effect(CPE) of RSV-infected HEp-2 cells and increase survival rates of RSV-infected cells in a dose dependent manner,and could be used as an effective drug for RSV infection.