Background and Aims: Adenovirus is one of the causative agents of viral conjunctivitis. Approximately an average of 40% of viral conjunctivitis is due to adenovirus infection. The rate of infection is usually the highest during the spring and summer months. In this study attempt was made to evaluate the incidence of conjunctivitis due to adenovirus infection in patients referred to one of the affiliated university hospital using the congenital virological methods. Materials and Methods: Samples were taken by a swab from patients with clinical conjunctivitis. Samples were processed and tested using the techniques of cell culture inoculation and polymerase chain reaction. Results: From the 100 samples taken 16% of then were positive by PCR Method. From these only 8% showed viral growth on cell culture. There was no difference of infection between the sex groups but most cases accrued in patients aged 17-27 years during the months of March to May. Conclusion: From the results of this study if was concluded that adenovirus plays a major role as a causative agent of conjunctivitis.

Background and Aims: Lemon Balm L (Lamiaceae) has been used in a variety of practical applications in medical sciences. Its antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) was investigated in cell culture. Lemon Balm hydroalcoholic extract was found to be non-toxic to Vero cells up to concentration 800 ug/ml and inhibited the growth and development of HSV-1 in dose-dependent manner in Vero cells. Methods: In order to study the possible mechanisms of the antiviral activity of Lemon Balm extract, cells were treated with extract before, during and after infection, and the viral titers were tested by TCID50 assay. Results: The antiviral effects in treatment of post and during virus infection were more remarkable than the treatment of preinfection. For further investigation indirect immunofluorescence technique was used to elucidate the antiviral mechanism of the extract by infecting Vero cells at different times and monitoring the synthesis of viral proteins. Conclusion: Although the precise mechanism has not yet to be defined, our work indicated that lemon Balm L. extract could inhibit growth and development of HSV-1 in cells in vitro.