In vitro Antiviral Activity and Cytotoxicity of Aspirin: Lack of Selective Activity against Influenza a Virus or Rhinovirus

Because of a report that aspirin 5-10 mm has potent anti-influenza virus A activity in vitro, we assessed aspirin's cellular cytotoxicity and inhibitory effects for influenza A and rhinovirus in cell culture. Aspirin 5-10mm was inhibitory for the growth of uninfected rhesus monkey kidney, MDCK, MRC-5 strain human embryonic lung, and HeLa cells. Concentrations of 2.5mm and lower had no inhibitory affects for growth of representative influenza A strains in MDCK or RMK cells or for rhinovirus serotype 39 or 1A in MRC-5 and HeLa cells. In summary, our in vitro studies did not find evidence for selective anti-rhinovirus or influenza A virus activities at non-cytotoxic concentrations of aspirin.