Ribavirin (Tribavirin) is a synthetic nucleoside analog of ribofuranose with activity against hepatitis C virus and other RNA viruses.

METHODS: To investigate the antiviral effect against CCHF virus, Ribavirin (100 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally to CCHF virus-infected IFNAR-/- mice once daily until death or day 8.
RESULTS: CCHF virus-infected IFNAR-/- mice died 2-6 days post-infection, with elevated blood and organ transaminase levels and high viral titers.Ribavirin did not increase the survival rate of the IFNAR-/- mice but prolonged the time to death and decreased the transaminase levels and viral titers. [3]

The effect of Ribavirin on microglial cell viability is evaluated by the sulforhodamine B (SRB) chemosensitivity assay. Briefly, LPS-stimulated microglial cells are incubated for 48 h in the presence or absence of Ribavirin. Afterward, the cells are fixed in 10% (w/v) trichloroacetic acid for 1 h at 4°C, rinsed in tap water and stained with 0.4% (w/v) SRB in 1% acetic acid (100 μL/well) for 30 min at room temperature (RT). The cells are then rinsed three times in 1% acetic acid to remove the unbound stain. The protein bound stain is extracted with 200 μL 10 mM Tris base (pH 10.5) per well. The optical density is read at 540 nm, with correction at 670 nm. The results are presented as percentage of the control (non-stimulated/untreated microglial cells), that is arbitrarily set to 100%.