The effect of oral administration of tauroside Sx1 on the accumulation of influenza virus and histological changes in the lungs of mice

¹ Federal State Budgetary Institution of Higher Education Crimean Federal University named after V. I. Vernadsky, Order of the Red Banner of Labor Medical Institute named after S. I. Georgievsky, Simferopol, Russia
² Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Agricultural Academy named after K.A. Timiryazev, Moscow, Russia

^* Corresponding author: tanzcool@mail.ru

Abstract

The constant threat of a new viral pandemic gives special urgency to the search for new effective means of preventing and treating influenza infection. The article examines the effect of oral administration of saponin tauroside Sx1, obtained from the leaves of Crimean ivy, on the development of infection caused by influenza virus A/WSN/1/33(H1N1), and histological changes in the lungs of infected mice. It was revealed that oral administration of saponin tauroside Sx1 at a dose of 200 mcg/mouse day or 11.8 mg/kg/day for three days after infection led to an almost twofold statistically significant increase in the average life expectancy of infected animals from 6.50±0.67 to 11.10±2.19 days. The protective activity of tauroside Sx1 was established when administered orally in the early stages of influenza infection in mice. The protective effect of saponin is manifested in a significant increase in the average life expectancy and normalization of the structure of lung tissue in infected animals. The results obtained indicate the prospects for further study of saponin tauroside Sx1 as a potential component of anti-influenza drugs.