Evaluation of the antiviral activity against Junin virus of macrocyclic trichothecenes produced by the hypocrealean epibiont of Baccharis coridifolia

C. C. GARCÍA; ROSSO LUCIANA; MD BERTONI; M MAIER; E. B. DAMONTE

PLANTA MEDICA

George Thieme Verlag

Lugar: Sttugart-New York; Año: 2002 p. 209 - 212

0032-0943

<!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:70.85pt 3.0cm 70.85pt 3.0cm; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> Four macrocyclic trichothecenes, roridin A, roridin E, verrucarin A and verrucarin J, produced by the hypocrealean epibiont of Baccharis coridifolia, were evaluated for their inhibitory activity against the arenavirus Junin (JUNV), the etiological agent of Argentine hemorrhagic fever. The trichothecenes achieved a dose-dependent inhibition of JUNV multiplication at concentrations not affecting cell viability. The inhibitory concentration 50% (IC50) values determined by a virus yield inhibition assay were in the range 1.2-4.9 ng/ml. The most active compound was verrucarin J which reduced JUNV yield more than 2 log units and had a similar effect against the arenavirus Tacaribe. The trichothecenes lacked virucidal effects on JUNV virions. From time of addition and removal experiments, it can be concluded that verrucarin J inhibited a late stage in the replicative cycle of JUNV, after 5 h of adsorption. Keywords: trichothecenes, Junin virus, arenaviruses, antiviral activity, Baccharis coridifolia, Asteraceae