title: [Antiviral and cytotoxic activities of new derivatives of natural sesquiterpenes and taxol].
abstract: Common occurrences of serious viral infections and a small number of available antiviral chemotherapeutics necessitate research for new, biologically active substances, which might be of use as antiviral drugs. Natural compounds, e.g., derived from plants and fungi, which show significant and various biological activities, may be a source of potential drugs. Sesquiterpenes, as well as taxol, and their derivatives, may serve as an example. The aim of the present study was to investigate the antiviral, antibacterial and cytotoxic properties of 7 new compounds: derivatives of sesquiterpenes of Lactarius mushroom origin and taxol--N-benzoylphenylisoserinates of sesquiterpenoid alcohols. The cytotoxicity of the tested compounds against Vero, RD, LLC-MK2 and A549 cell lines were assessed using the formazan method. All compounds showed a lower cytotoxicity than taxol. Their antiviral activity in vitro was evaluated by assessing the reduction of virus titre in cells subjected to the compounds in comparison to the cells, which were not subjected to them. It was found that out of 7 investigated compounds 3 exhibited antiviral activity. These compounds inhibited replication of HSV-1 virus in Vero cells. It appears therefore that further investigation of these groups of compounds and their derivatives is justified because they may constitute a potential source of chemotherapeutics.
authors.affiliation: Zakład Mikrobiologii Lekarskiej, Akademia Medyczna w Warszawie.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Krawczyk
authors.forename: Mirosław
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luczak
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Majewska
mesh_terms: D000438:Alcohols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000187:drug effects*; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000438:Alcohols; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D017239:Paclitaxel