Study:

Chen. D., Su, A., Fu, Y., Wang, X., Lv, X., Xu, W., Xu, S., Wang, H. & Wu, Z. (2015) Harmine blocks herpes simplex virus infection through downregulating cellular NF-κB and MAPK pathways induced by oxidative stress. Antiviral Research, 123, 27-38.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26348003

Abstract

Herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and -2) are highly prevalent in many populations and therapeutic options are limited. Both viruses can establish latency by maintaining viral genomes in neurons of sensory ganglia. Primary or recurrent HSV infections may lead to deleterious outcomes: HSV-1 infection may result in corneal blindness and encephalitis and HSV-2 infection leads to herpes genitalis. While no effective vaccine is available, acyclovir is widely used for therapy, which targets and inhibits viral DNA polymerase. Although acyclovir is of low toxicity, resistant strains arise due to persistent use, mainly in immune compromised patients. In our effort to identify new HSV inhibitory molecules, harmine was found to potently inhibit HSV infection. Harmine, a beta-carbon alkaloid with an indole core structure and a pyridine ring, is widely distributed in plants. Earlier studies showed that harmine exhibited pharmacological activities such as antifungal, antimicrobial, antitumor, antiplasmodial and antioxidants. In the current study, we showed that harmine was a potent inhibitor of HSV-2 infection in vitro assays with EC50 value at around 1.47μM and CC50 value at around 337.10μM. The HSV RNA transcription, protein synthesis, and virus titers were reduced by the presence of harmine in a dose dependent manner. Further study on the mechanism of the anti-HSV activity showed that harmine blocked HSV-induced ROS production and the upregulated cytokine/chemokine expression, but our evidence showed that the inhibition of viral replication was unlikely mediated by the blocking of ROS production. We demonstrated that harmine significantly reduced HSV-2-induced NF-κB activation, as well as IκB-α degradation and p65 nuclear translocation. We found that harmine also inhibited HSV-2-mediated p38 kinase and c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) phosphorylation.

Another interesting find. Thanks Bancopuma!

Thanks for the share!!

Seems herpes simplex and herpes zoster (shingles - rashes) are same family.

The zoster can damage nerves called postherpetic neuralgia, leading to phantom pains.
Syrian rue can help here too:


I had a line of zoster once on the belly with postherpetic neuralgia pains. Doctor said some antidepressants could help but did not prescript meds. I searched (googled) and found indeed indications of curative effects by aid of tricyclic antidepressants, which our harmalas are.
I microdosed rueHCL and cured fairly quick.

^^ Cutaneous zoster (ie Shingles) represents the reactivation of the Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV), the fancy name for the virus which causes chickenpox. Once you've had chickenpox the virus is effectively retained in the sensory nerve root ganglia and, should you become immunosuppressed (by for example having pneumonia, HIV, other stressors, drugs etc) the virus 'wakes up' to cause shingles rather than further episodes of chickenpox. VZV is one of many other viruses of the Herpes family.

Tricyclics have a pain-modulating effect on the shingles-associated discomfort but do not result in clearance of the VZV virus from the body.

And thanks to Bancopuma and pitubo for bringing the paper here; pretty fascinating stuff.

Thanks for the input guys, interesting stuff, and thanks pitubo again for sharing the paper! It seems harmine is an interesting multifaceted compound, what with its effect on the pancreatic insulin producing cells, and the potential implications for diabetes sufferers. Great to see more of this kind of research happening.