Potent and Selective Activity against Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 (HIV-1) of Thymelaea hirsuta Extracts.

Historically, natural products have been the most successful source of inspiration for the development of new drugs. Members of the Thymelaeaceae family have been of interest owing to their excellent medicinal value. Given the successful history of natural product-based drug discovery, extracts from the aerial parts of Thymelaea hirsuta were essvaluated for their potential anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) activity. Ethyl acetate extracts from leaves (71B) and branches (72B) of Thymelaea hirsuta showed potent and selective activity against HIV-1 wt (EC50 = 0.8 µg/mL) at non-cytotoxic concentrations (CC50 > 100 µg/mL). They proved to be active against HIV-1 variants carrying clinically relevant NNRTI and NRTI mutations at low concentration (0.3-4 µg/mL range) and against the M-tropic strain HIV-1 BaL. The 72B extract, chosen as a lead, was not able to inhibit the RT and protease enzymatic functions. Furthermore, it was not virucidal, since exposure of HIV to high concentration did not affect virus infectivity. The pre-clinical safety profile of this extract showed no adverse effect on the growth of Lactobacilli, and non-toxic concentration of the extract did not influence the Caco-2 epithelial cells monolayer integrity. Additionally, extract 72B prevented syncytia formation at low concentration (0.4 µg/mL). The potent inhibitory effect on the syncytia formation in co-cultures showed that 72B inhibits an early event in the replication cycle of HIV. All of these findings prompt us to carry on new studies on Thymelaea hirsuta extracts.

Disubstituted 4-Chloro-3-nitrophenylthiourea Derivatives: Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Studies.

4-Chloro-3-nitrophenylthioureas 1⁻30 were synthesized and tested for their antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities. Compounds exhibited high to moderate antistaphylococcal activity against both standard and clinical strains (MIC values 2⁻64 µg/mL). Among them derivatives with electron-donating alkyl substituents at the phenyl ring were the most promising. Moreover, compounds 1⁻6 and 8⁻19 were cytotoxic against MT-4 cells and various other cell lines derived from human hematological tumors (CC50 ≤ 10 µM). The influence of derivatives 11, 13 and 25 on viability, mortality and the growth rate of immortalized human keratinocytes (HaCaT) was observed.

1H-Tetrazol-5-amine and 1,3-thiazolidin-4-one derivatives containing 3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl scaffold: Synthesis, cytotoxic and anti-HIV studies.

On the basis of recently reported biologically active 3-(trifluoromethyl)phenylthioureas, a series of diaryl derivatives incorporating 1H-tetrazol-5-yl (1a-11a, 1a'-11a') and 1,3-thiazolidin-4-one (1b-11b) scaffolds were synthesized. The synthesis pathway was confirmed by an X-ray crystallographic studies of 3a', 6a, 8a, 6b and 8b. The cytotoxicity against MT-4 cells and anti-HIV properties of new derivatives were evaluated. As compared to initial thiourea connections, the cyclisation reduced the cytotoxicity of compounds by 2-15 times. The most promising N-(4-nitrophenyl)-1H-tetrazol-5-amine 7a was found to be more active than the origin thiourea. Its cytotoxicity was evaluated on A549, HTB-140 and HaCaT cell lines using MTT assay. The compound shows significant influence on cancer, but not on normal cells. Obtained results can provide some constructive data for further designing of novel family of potentially bioactive analogs.

New thiourea and 1,3-thiazolidin-4-one derivatives effective on the HIV-1 virus.

Thiourea derivatives have been reported to possess many biological activities, among them antiviral and antitumoral properties. As part of our continuing effort to develop new active compounds, we report the synthesis and the evaluation of new fifteen thiourea derivatives with 1,3-benzothiazole-2-yl moiety, among them a group of biologically active (1-7) also underwent cyclization to 1,3-thiazolidin-4-ones. Molecular structure of four compounds (4, 13, 15 and 3a) was determined by an X-ray crystallography. We here report the evaluation of their cytotoxicity against human leukaemia/lymphoma- and solid tumour-derived cell lines and of their antiviral activity against HIV-1 and representatives of ssRNA and dsDNA viruses. Derivative 5 showed an interesting activity against HIV-1 wild type and against variants carrying clinically relevant mutations. A colorimetric enzyme immunoassay clarified its mode of action as a non-nucleoside inhibitor of the reverse transcriptase.

Limonoids from Melia azedarach Fruits as Inhibitors of Flaviviruses and Mycobacterium tubercolosis.

The biological diversity of nature is the source of a wide range of bioactive molecules. The natural products, either as pure compounds or as standardized plant extracts, have been a successful source of inspiration for the development of new drugs. The present work was carried out to investigate the cytotoxicity, antiviral and antimycobacterial activity of the methanol extract and of four identified limonoids from the fruits of Melia azedarach (Meliaceae). The extract and purified limonoids were tested in cell-based assays for antiviral activity against representatives of ssRNA, dsRNA and dsDNA viruses and against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Very interestingly, 3-α-tigloyl-melianol and melianone showed a potent antiviral activity (EC50 in the range of 3-11µM) against three important human pathogens, belonging to Flaviviridae family, West Nile virus, Dengue virus and Yellow Fever virus. Mode of action studies demonstrated that title compounds were inhibitors of West Nile virus only when added during the infection, acting as inhibitors of the entry or of a very early event of life cycle. Furthermore, 3-α-tigloyl-melianol and methyl kulonate showed interesting antimycobacterial activity (with MIC values of 29 and 70 µM respectively). The limonoids are typically lipophilic compounds present in the fruits of Melia azeradach. They are known as cytotoxic compounds against different cancer cell lines, while their potential as antiviral and antibacterial was poorly investigated. Our studies show that they may serve as a good starting point for the development of novel drugs for the treatment of infections by Flaviviruses and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, for which there is a continued need.

Disubstituted thiourea derivatives and their activity on CNS: synthesis and biological evaluation.

A series of new thiourea derivatives of 1,2,4-triazole have been synthesized. The difference in structures of obtained compounds are directly connected with the kind of isothiocyanate (aryl/alkyl). The (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, MS methods were used to confirm structures of obtained thiourea derivatives. The molecular structure of (1, 17) was determined by an X-ray analysis. Two of the new compounds (8 and 14) were tested for their pharmacological activity on animal central nervous system (CNS) in behavioural animal tests. The results presented in this work indicate the possible involvement of the serotonergic system in the activity of 8 and 14. In the case of 14 is also a possible link between its activity and the endogenous opioid system. All obtained compounds were tested for antibacterial activity against gram-positive cocci, gram-negative rods and antifungal activity. Compounds (1, 2, 5, 7, 9) showed significant inhibition against gram-positive cocci. Microbiological evaluation was carried out over 20 standard strains and 30 hospital strains. Selected compounds (1-13) were examined for cytotoxicity, antitumor, and anti-HIV activity.

Aryl nucleoside H-phosphonates. Part 15: Synthesis, properties and, anti-HIV activity of aryl nucleoside 5'-alpha-hydroxyphosphonates.

Aryl nucleoside 5'-H-phosphonates 4 bearing AZT or 2',3'-dideoxyuridine moieties were subjected to reaction with various aromatic aldehydes to produce nucleoside 5'-alpha-hydroxyphosphonate derivatives 2 as potential anti-HIV agents. Stability of the title compounds in cell culture media was investigated and three distinct decomposition pathways were identified. The anti-HIV activity of hydroxyphosphonates 2 correlates well with the type and extent of their chemical or enzymatic degradation in culture medium (RPMI 1640 containing 10% FBS), suggesting that aryl nucleoside 5'-hydroxyphosphonates 2 act as depot forms of the parent antiviral nucleosides.