Patent ID: 7648717

Claim:
A method of inactivating enterovirus type 71 in vitro, comprising contacting enterovirus type 71 with an herbal extract in vitro ; wherein said herbal extract is prepared by: a) pre-extracting comminuted Fructus Ligustri Lucidi (privet fruit) with a solvent selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol and a mixture thereof to obtain a pre-extract, b) extracting said pre-extract of step (a) with dichioromethane to obtain an extract, c) purifying the extract of part (b) by passing said extract through a column packed with silica gel, d) eluting the column with dichloromethane/ethyl acetate to obtain an eluate; and e) removing solvent from the eluate to obtain a powder which is the herbal extract.