title: Methyl gallate, methyl-3,4,5-trihydoxybenzoate, is a potent and highly specific inhibitor of herpes simplex virus in vitro. II. Antiviral activity of methyl gallate and its derivatives.
abstract: Methyl gallate (MG), methyl-3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate, was highly active against herpes viruses as determined by plaque reduction assay. Herpes simplex virus type 2, MS strain, was sensitive to MG at a mean 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 0.224 micrograms/ml in monkey kidney cells. MG was specific for herpes viruses with the relative sensitivity HSV-2 greater than HSV-1 greater than CMV. Two RNA viruses tested were significantly less sensitive to MG. The structural components of MG which modulate the anti-herpetic activity were identified by analysis of chemical analogues. Our structural analyses indicated that three hydroxyl groups were required but were not sufficient for the anti-herpetic action of MG. The presence and chain length of the alkyl ester were also important to the anti-herpetic activity of MG. Methyl gallate may interact with virus proteins and alter the adsorption and penetration of the virion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock 72205.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Kane
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Menna
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: Y C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Yeh
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000633:toxicity; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000187:drug effects; D005707:Gallic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000187:drug effects; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000187:drug effects; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000187:drug effects*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014721:Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus / Q000187:drug effects; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; C052082:methyl gallate; D005707:Gallic Acid