Chromium(III) and iron(III) inhibits replication of DNA and RNA viruses

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of treating of chromium(III) and iron(III) and their combinations on Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 (HSV-1) and Bovine Viral Diarrhoea virus (BVDV) replication. The antiviral efficacies of chromium(III) and iron(III) on HSV-1 and BVDV were evaluated using Real Time PCR method. Moreover, the cytotoxicity of these microelements was examined using the MTT reduction assay. The IC(50) (50% inhibiotory concentration) for the chromium chloride was 1100 μM for Hep-2 cells and 1400 μM for BT cells. The IC(50) for the iron chloride was 1200 μM for Hep-2 cells and more than1400 μM for BT cells. The concentration-dependent antiviral activity of chromium chloride and iron chloride against HSV-1 and BVDV viruses was observed. In cultures simultaneously treated with (1) 200 μM of CrCl(3) and 1000 μM of FeCl(3), (2) 1000 μM of CrCl(3) and 200 μM of FeCl(3), (3) 400 μM of CrCl(3) and 800 μM of FeCl(3), (4) 800 μM of CrCl(3) and 400 μM of FeCl(3) a decrease in number of DNA or RNA copies was observed compared with control cells and cells incubated with chromium(III) and iron(III) used separately. The synergistic antiviral effects were observed for chromium(III) and iron(III) against HSV-1 and BVDV.