In Vitro and In Vivo Inhibition of Pseudorabies Virus Replication by Natural Plant <em>Aconitum tanguticum </em>and <em>Belamcanda chinensis</em>

It has been widely known that the Pseudorabies virus (PRV) presents a significant health risk to swine, inflicting considerable economic losses in breeding industry, but those basic function about this disease still keeps unknown. For further understanding its potentiality, the antiviral potential of extracts from five plants against PRV was investigated in vitro. Notably, Aconitum tanguticum and Belamcanda chinensis demonstrated significant inhibition through distinct antiviral mechanisms. Aconitum tanguticum exhibited dose-dependent antiviral activity, significantly reducing viral RNA synthesis, protein expression, and the production of infectious progeny in infected Vero cells. Its primary mechanism involves direct viral binding, leading to substantial reduction in viral titers and a 90% inhibition rate in Vero cells with a concentration of 10 mg/mL. Conversely, Belamcanda chinensis interferes with host cell processes, showing enhanced efficacy post-PRV infection. Both agents effectively protected mice by prolonging survival, alleviating clinical symptoms and histopathological damage in their major organs, and reducing viral loads in lungs and livers. These findings dig out the potential of Aconitum tanguticum and Belamcanda chinensis as therapeutic agents against PRV infections.