Anti-HBV Efficacy of Ficus Plant's Leaf Extract against the Most Dominant HBV Genotypes in the Nile Delta Region of Egypt

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infects millions of people worldwide annually, causing chronic liver diseases such as cirrhosis, fibrosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. HBV has nine known genotypes (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, and I) and a tentative tenth genotype (J). Identifying HBV genotyping is crucial since different genotypes and sub-genotypes can influence treatment outcomes and responses to antiviral therapy. Therefore, we employed conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to determine the HBV genotypes in three Egyptian governorates: Dakahlia (DK), Gharbia (GHR), and El-Sharkia (SHR). Specific primers for various HBV genotypes (A, B, C, D, E, and F) were used for this purpose. Out of 38 samples, three samples (7.8%) were found to have the D genotype, and four samples (10.5%) were identified as genotype C. The genotypes that were discovered underwent deep sequencing, which revealed two bands in the sequence results that were 99% identical to genotype D. The remaining bands could not be sequenced or gave unclear and incorrect sequence data. We evaluated the leaf extracts of three Ficus species (F. mysorensis, F. deltoidei, and sycomorus) as antiviral substances against HBV infection using an MTT assay. The results showed promising antiviral effects of these extracts, which could potentially aid in stopping the progression of HBV infection. Our findings indicate that conventional PCR with deep sequencing can accurately identify HBV genotypes, and Ficus plants may serve as an excellent supplement to standard treatment for HBV infections.