The weighted average CI was calculated using the formula: CI = [CI50 + 2CI75 + 3CI90 + 4CI95]/10, where CI50, CI75, CI90, and CI95 are the CI values at 50%, 75%, 90% and 95% inhibition, respectively ( Bassit et al., 2008 and Chou and Talalay, 1984). We assessed the effect of PYC on HCV in R6FLR-N and FLR3-1 cell lines after 72 h (Fig. 1). The data

are expressed as relative values using the relative light unit count for the 0 μg/mL treatment sample as 100% (Fig. 1A). The results showed that PYC inhibited luciferase activity in R6FLR-N cells (50% inhibitory concentration [IC50] = 5.78 ± 3.75 μg/mL, 50% effective concentration [EC50] = 4.33 μg/mL (2.2–8.5) in a dose-dependent Bosutinib cell line manner. To rule out the possibility that the antiviral activity was caused by cytotoxic effects, cell proliferation was analysed using the WST-8 assay; no significant differences in cell viability (50% cytotoxic concentration [CC50] > 60 μg/mL PYC; Selectivity index [SI] > 14.1) (Fig. 1B). These results MEK inhibitor indicate that PYC suppresses HCV (genotype 1b) replication. Consistent with results showing the inhibitory effects of PYC on HCV replication, we observed that HCV NS3 protein levels decreased significantly in PYC and IFN-alpha-treated HCV replicon cell lines (Fig. 1C). HCV NS3 and NS5B proteins levels were progressively

suppressed in HCV replicon cell lines at various PYC concentrations (0, 5, 10, and 20 μg/mL) (Fig. 1D). These results suggest that HCV protein synthesis was inhibited by PYC in a concentration-dependent manner. R6FLR-N cells were treated with IFN-alpha and RBV alone or in combination with several concentrations of PYC and incubated for 48 h (Fig. 2A). HCV replication was suppressed by approximately 20% following treatment with 5 μg/mL RBV, and by approximately 40% following treatment with 1 IU/mL IFN-alpha. Treatment with both RBV and IFN-alpha led to Metabolism inhibitor approximately

50% suppression. PYC showed a dose-dependent additive effect when administered in combination with RBV and IFN-alpha (Fig. 2A). Treatment with both PYC (5 μg/mL) and IFN-alpha (1 IU/mL) showed a synergistic effect (CI = 0.253) in suppressing HCV replication without cytotoxicity (Fig. 2A and B). JFH Luc3-13-N cells were inoculated with IFN-alpha (5 IU/mL) or several concentrations of PYC (5–50 μg/mL) and incubated for 72 h (Fig. 2C). HCV (genotype 2a) replication was suppressed by approximately 50% following treatment with 40 μg/mL PYC (Fig. 2C) without significant cytotoxicity (Fig. 2D). PYC, IFN-alpha, and RBV treatments were also evaluated in JFH-1/K4 HCV (genotype 2a) infected cells (Fig. 2E). HCV RNA levels decreased in the presence of PYC (10 or 20 μg/mL) to levels comparable to treatment with 1 IU/mL IFN-alpha in cell culture supernatant after 72 h.