Abstract
PMF (a camel urine or PM 701 fraction), is a traditional treatment for many human diseases. Demands for developing clinical treatments against dangerous viruses are increasing. This study aimed to investigate the effects of PMF as a novel pharmaceutical drug in vitro in inducing antiviral and/or virostatic activity against MERS-CoV and influenza A (H1N1) viruses. Infectivity assay was determined by end point dilution titration, infective dose was calculated and PMF virucidal activity was evaluated as a reduction factor. Quantitative virucidal suspension test was performed using TGEV virus, as a model for MERS-CoV, and H1N1 virus. The results indicated that PMF concentration of 20.34% inactivated 99.5% of the TGEV virus after 60 min, and 99.9% after 240 min. The results also indicated that the same PMF concentration inactivated H1N1 virus on Madin Darby canine kidney cells (MDCK/63) by 98.90% and 99.99% after 60 and 240 min, respectively. We speculate that copper and zinc elements in PMF might vitally contribute to the antiviral and virostatic activity. In conclusion, PMF was proven to induce antiviral in vitro activity against both viruses, hence, is recommended to use as a therapeutic antiviral agent in the future.