Jumana AbdulRahem Turkistani
Albayan Model School for Girls, Jeddah, Makkah Almukkarama, SAUDI ARABIA
The horrific flooding in Saudi Arabia in (2009) was the foundation of increasing Dengue Fever Virus (DFV) cases, especially in the city of Jeddah with 263 confirmed diagnoses. Worldwide deaths reached in (2007) to 22,000. This terrifying number should alarm researchers to focus on solutions to cease this disease from spreading. The WHO estimated that 80% of people worldwide rely on herbal medicines for a portion of their primary health care, and that was the aim of this project. To develop an effective herbal remedy that inhibits DFV without having a negative effect in cell culture. The effect of four kinds of natural herbs (FMS – ANS – MNS – RI-NS) was examined on DFV strain (DEN-1). First, (LLCMK-2) monkey kidney cells were prepared. Second, toxicity of the herbs was tested on cell culture using different dilutions. Third, Virus dilutions (10 fold dilution) were added to 24-well plate with media containing nontoxic herbs (positive control). Also, virus dilutions were added with media without herbs (negative control) to compare between them. This test was repeated three times at 10 minute duration. The results shows that the nontoxic herb dilutions were (1:40 FMS) – (1:40 MNS) – (1:10 ANS) - (1:10 RI-NS). PCR was used to amplify specific virus genes then confirm the results. This indicates that FMS herb has affected DFV by inhibiting its growth in cell culture when virus dilution =0.01 compared to virus dilution with media =0.001. Our result could lead to the development of a safe, cheap anti-viral compound to whoever needs it.