title: Novel DL-galactan hybrids from the red seaweed Gymnogongrus torulosus are potent inhibitors of herpes simplex virus and dengue virus.
abstract: A novel series of DL-galactan hybrids extracted from the red seaweed Gymnogongrus torulosus, was evaluated for its in vitro antiviral properties against herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and dengue virus 2 (DEN-2). These compounds were very active against both viruses with inhibitory concentration 50% (IC50) values in the range 0.6-16 microg/ml for HSV-2 and 0.19-1.7 microg/ml for DEN-2, respectively, as determined in a virus plaque reduction assay in Vero cells. The DL-galactans lacked of cytotoxic effects, on stationary as well as on actively dividing cells, and anticoagulant properties. Some of the compounds showed a variable level of direct inactivating effect on both virions, with virucidal concentration 50% values exceeding the IC50s obtained by plaque reduction assay. Full inhibitory activity was achieved when the galactans were present during virus adsorption period, suggesting that the mode of action of these compounds is an interference in the binding of the surface envelope glycoprotein with the cell receptor.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Quimica Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Argentina.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Pujol
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Estevez
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Carlucci
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ciancia
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Cerezo
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Damonte
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D003716:Dengue Virus / Q000187:drug effects*; D005685:Galactans / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000187:drug effects*; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D012624:Seaweed / Q000737:chemistry*; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000187:drug effects; D013918:Thrombin Time; D014709:Vero Cells; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D005685:Galactans; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins