Effect of Phyllanthus amarus on duck hepatitis B virus replication in vivo

Abstract

Nine ducks congenitally infected with the duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) were treated either orally (four ducks for 10 weeks) or intraperitoneally (five ducks for 12 weeks) with the Indian traditional herbal remedy Phyllanthus amarus. Compared to placebo‐treated control ducks, these treatments did not result in a reduction of circulating viral DNA in the serum or in the level of viral DNA replication in the liver. In two of the five intraperitoneal‐treated ducks, a reduction in the levels of duck hepatitis B surface antigenaemia (DHBsAg) was observed. The data strongly suggest that Phyllanthus amarus has no significant inhibitory effect on DHBV DNA replication and only a minor effect on DHBsA..