Antiinfective activity of a plant preparation from Geranium sanguineum L.

A methanol extract (PC) has been obtained from the Bulgarian medicinal plant Geranium sanguineum L. The antiinfective activity of the plant preparation was studied. The extract inhibited the reproduction of a range of viruses (influenza, herpes simplex, vaccinia, HIV-I) in cell cultures. Its antiinfluenza effect was most pronounced; PC reduced the infectivity of various influenza virus strains in vitro and protected mice in experimental influenza infection. The polyphenol extract inhibited the in vitro growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans.