Protocatechuic aldehyde inhibits hepatitis B virus replication both in vitro and in vivo

Natural compounds provide a large reservoir of potentially active anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) agents. We examined the direct effects of protocatechuic aldehyde (PA; derived from the Chinese herb, Salvia miltiorrhiza) on HBV replication in HepG2 2.2.15 cell line and duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) replication in ducklings in vivo. The extracellular HBV DNA, hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) concentrations in cell culture medium were determined by quantitative real-time PCR and ELISA, respectively. DHBV in duck serum was analyzed by dot blot. PA appeared to downregulate the secretion of HBsAg and HBeAg as well as the release of HBV DNA from HepG2 2.2.15 in a dose- and time-dependent manner at concentrations between 24 and 48 μg/mL. PA (25, 50, or 100 mg/kg, intraperitoneally, twice daily) also reduced viremia in DHBV-infected ducks. We provide the first evidence that PA, a novel anti-HBV substance derived from traditional Chinese herb S. miltiorrhiza, can efficiently inhibits HBV replication in HepG2 2.2.15 cell line in vitro and inhibit DHBV replication in ducks in vivo. PA therefore warrants further investigation as a potential therapeutic agent for HBV infections.