title: Alkaloids from Leucojum vernum and antiretroviral activity of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids.
abstract: Three alkaloids, lycorine, homolycorine and 2- O-acetyllycorine, were isolated from the bulbs of Leucojum vernum (Amaryllidaceae) and identified by means of NMR analysis. The alkaloids obtained from L. vernum and from other Amaryllidaceae species were studied in vitro for HIV-1 replication inhibitory activity on MT4 cells. The cytotoxicity of the compounds in uninfected cells was evaluated by using the MTT assay and the [ (3)H]thymidine incorporation test. The antiviral activities were determined by means of the p24 antigen assay and solid-phase reverse transcriptase testing. The results demonstrate that trisphaeridine, lycorine, homolycorine, and haemanthamine possess high antiretroviral activities (IC (50) = 0.4 - 7.3 microg/mL), accompanied by low therapeutic indices (TI (50) = 1.3 - 1.9).
authors.affiliation: Johan Béla National Centre for Epidemiology, Microbiological Research Group, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: László
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Szlávik
authors.forename: Agnes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gyuris
authors.forename: János
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Minárovits
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Forgo
authors.forename: József
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Molnár
authors.forename: Judit
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hohmann
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D019668:Liliaceae; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts