Evaluation of Antiviral and Cytotoxic Activities of Methanolic Extract of Thespesia Populnea (Malvaceae) Flowers

Methanolic flower extracts of Thespesia populnea were evaluated for antiviral and cytotoxic activities using different virus strains cultured in four cell lines. Methanolic extracts showed the strongest antiviral activity against vesicular stomatitis virus, coxsackie B4, and respiratory syncytical viruses that is (EC50 = 20 μg.mL−1) and moderate activity for others (EC50 = 100 μg.mL−1). These activities may be due to the presence of flavonoids in which inhibits the virus cell fusion at early and replication stages. These results support the use of T. populnea as a safe and effective antimicrobial agent in treating infectious diseases.