The biological activity of polyhydroxyalkaloids from plants

Synergistic Inhibition of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 in vitro by 6-0-butanoylcastanospermine (MDL 28574) in Combination with Inhibitors of the Virus-Encoded Reverse Transcriptase and Proteinase

The anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) activity of the α-glucosidase 1 inhibitor 6-0-butanoylcastanospermine (MDL 28574) was assessed in combination with the 2′,3′-dideoxynucleoside analogues zidovudine (AZT), didanosine (ddl) and zalcitabine (ddC). MDL 28574 was also evaluated in combination with the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitor nevirapine and the HIV proteinase inhibitor saquinavir (Ro-31-8959). Drug interactions were examined by the isobologram technique and by calculating combination indices (C.l.s). In all cases synergistic inhibition of HIV-1 replication was observed. In three-drug combinations, a marked synergistic antiviral effect was also observed, with C.I. values in the range 0.35-0.44 for MDL 28574 in combination with AZT and nevirapine, and in the range 0.34-0.67 for MDL 28574 in combination with AZT and saquinavir. Moreover, the combination of MDL 28574 with other drugs did not produce detrimental effects on cell division. MDL 28574 is currently in clinical trials and may have an important role in combination chemotherapy for HIV infections.

Stereoselective synthesis of (2S,3S,4R,5S)-3,4-dihydroxy-2,5-dihydroxymethyl pyrrolidine from L-sorbose

One of the most frequently synthesized iminosugar derivatives is DMDP. Starting from L-sorbose, a practical method for the synthesis of derivatives of this five-membered iminocyclitol has been developed, involving straightforward steps and a convenient selective reduction of a ketoxime intermediate.

Inhibition of α-glucosidase and α-amylase by diaryl derivatives of imidazole-thione and 1,2,4-triazole-thiol

The in vivo and in vitro effects of 4,5-diphenylimidazole-2-thione (1), 4,5-diphenyl-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol (2) and 5-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-4-phenyl-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol (3) on α-glucosidase and α-amylase were investigated. The in vivo inhibition has been found to be dose-dependent and to occur at a value less than LD50. The in vitro treatment of the enzymes by 4,5-diphenylimidazole-2-thione exhibited a reversible inhibition of the non-competitive type with Ki value of 3.5 and 6.5×10(-5) M for α-glucosidase and α-amylase, respectively. 4,5-diphenyl-1,2,4-triazole-3-thione showed a reversible inhibition of the competitive and non-competitive types, with Ki value of 10(-5) M magnitude, for α-glucosidase and α-amylase. On the other hand, 5-(o-hydroxyphenyl)-4-phenyl-1,2,4-triazole-3-thione did not display an inhibitory effect towards α-amylase but showed a potent inhibition of the competitive type for hepatic α-glucosidase with 10(-5) M magnitude of Ki value.

Time-dependent inhibition of porcine kidney trehalase by aminosugars

The inhibitory effects of various nitrogen-containing sugars on porcine kidney trehalase were studied. Validamycin A, validoxylamine A and MDL 25,637 were found to be potent, time-dependent inhibitors of the enzyme in vitro. The validoxylamine A-inhibited enzyme showed slow but reversible reactivation over time (t1/2 = 1.2 h). To our knowledge, this is the first report of time-dependent inhibition exhibited by either these particular aminosugars or a trehalase.

Loss of cytomegalovirus infectivity after treatment with castanospermine or related plant alkaloids correlates with aberrant glycoprotein synthesis

Many plants contain polyhydroxyalkaloids which are potent inhibitors of glucosidases, enzymes involved in oligosaccharide trimming. These are important in determining the final configuration of specific glycoproteins. Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) encodes a number of glycoproteins, some of which ultimately reside in the outer envelope of the mature virion and are important for virus infectivity. Treatment with three polyhydroxyalkaloids, castanospermine (CAST), deoxynojirimycin (DNJ) and 2R,5R-dihydroxymethyl-3R,4R-dihydroxypyrrolidine (DMDP) blocked the growth of infectious virus, as determined by yield reduction and plaque reduction assays. However, in the presence of CAST, CMV infected cells continued to shed virions into the extracellular medium, as determined by electron microscopy. Envelope glycoproteins of virions produced after treatment with CAST (2.5 mM) were immunoprecipitated with a monoclonal antibody (F5) specific for the gcI family of glycoproteins. Analysis by PAGE-SDS showed an absence of gcI complex 2 (gp52 disulphide-linked to gp130) with a proportional increase in gcI complex 1 (gp52 disulphide-linked to gp95). The results indicated that gp130 alone, or linked to gp52, was important for CMV infectivity. As well as being potential targets for antiviral agents against CMV, inhibitors of glycoprotein trimming reactions may define components of the virion surface important for infectivity.

Inhibition of HIV replication by amino-sugar derivatives

The plant alkaloids castanospermine, dihydroxymethyldihydroxypyrrolidine and deoxynojirimycin have recently been shown to have potential anti-HIV activity [(1987) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84, 8120-8124; (1987) Nature 330, 74-77; (1987) Lancet i, 1025-1026]. They are thought to act by inhibiting alpha-glucosidase I, an enzyme involved in the processing of N-linked oligosaccharides on glycoproteins. We report here the relative efficacy of a spectrum of amino-sugar derivatives as inhibition of HIV cytopathicity. Several alpha-glucosidase inhibitors and alpha-fucosidase inhibitors were found to be active at concentrations which were non-cytotoxic.