Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35804339›Full record

ArticleBMC complementary medicine and therapies2022

A defined anthocyanin mixture sourced from bilberry and black currant inhibits Measles virus and various herpesviruses.

Rinu Sivarajan, Heike Oberwinkler, Valeria Roll, Eva-Maria König, Maria Steinke, Jochen Bodem

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC complementary medicine and therapies, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Antiviral Activity ofPathogens (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025
    Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Rinu SivarajanInstitute for Virology and Immunobiology, Julius-Maximilians-University of Würzburg, Versbacher Strasse 7, 97078, Würzburg, Germany.
Heike OberwinklerChair of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Valeria RollInstitute for Virology and Immunobiology, Julius-Maximilians-University of Würzburg, Versbacher Strasse 7, 97078, Würzburg, Germany.
Eva-Maria KönigInstitute for Virology and Immunobiology, Julius-Maximilians-University of Würzburg, Versbacher Strasse 7, 97078, Würzburg, Germany.
Maria SteinkeChair of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Jochen BodemInstitute for Virology and Immunobiology, Julius-Maximilians-University of Würzburg, Versbacher Strasse 7, 97078, Würzburg, Germany. Jochen.Bodem@uni-wuerzburg.de.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAnthocyanin-containing plant extracts and carotenoids, such as astaxanthin, have been well-known for their antiviral and anti-inflammatory activity, respectively. We hypothesised that a mixture of Ribes nigrum L. (Grossulariaceae) (common name black currant (BC)) and Vaccinium myrtillus L. (Ericaceae) (common name bilberry (BL)) extracts (BC/BL) with standardised anthocyanin content as well as single plant extracts interfered with the replication of Measles virus and Herpesviruses in vitro.

methodsWe treated cell cultures with BC/BL or defined single plant extracts, purified anthocyanins and astaxanthin in different concentrations and subsequently infected the cultures with the Measles virus (wild-type or vaccine strain Edmonston), Herpesvirus 1 or 8, or murine Cytomegalovirus. Then, we analysed the number of infected cells and viral infectivity and compared the data to non-treated controls.

resultsThe BC/BL extract inhibited wild-type Measles virus replication, syncytia formation and cell-to-cell spread. This suppression was dependent on the wild-type virus-receptor-interaction since the Measles vaccine strain was unaffected by BC/BL treatment. Furthermore, the evidence was provided that the delphinidin-3-rutinoside chloride, a component of BC/BL, and purified astaxanthin, were effective anti-Measles virus compounds. Human Herpesvirus 1 and murine Cytomegalovirus replication was inhibited by BC/BL, single bilberry or black currant extracts, and the BC/BL component delphinidin-3-glucoside chloride. Additionally, we observed that BC/BL seemed to act synergistically with aciclovir. Moreover, BC/BL, the single bilberry and black currant extracts, and the BC/BL components delphinidin-3-glucoside chloride, cyanidin-3-glucoside, delphinidin-3-rutinoside chloride, and petunidin-3-galactoside inhibited human Herpesvirus 8 replication.

conclusionsOur data indicate that Measles viruses and Herpesviruses are differentially susceptible to a specific BC/BL mixture, single plant extracts, purified anthocyanins and astaxanthin. These compounds might be used in the prevention of viral diseases and in addition to direct-acting antivirals, such as aciclovir.

Indexed as

Hepatitis C, ChronicHerpesviridaeRibesVaccinium myrtillusAcyclovirAnimalsAnthocyaninsAntiviral AgentsChloridesFruitHumansMeasles virusMicePlant ExtractsAcyclovirAnthocyaninsAntiviral AgentsChloridesPlant ExtractsAnthocyaninAstaxanthinBilberryBlack currantHerpesvirusMeasles virus

Identifiers

PMID35804339
PMCPMC9264518

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.