Emerging antiviral drugs in plant chemotherapy

• Main Authors: D'ANNA F, PANATTONI, ALESSANDRA, TRIOLO, ENRICO
• Other Authors: D'Anna, F, Panattoni, Alessandra, Triolo, Enrico
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2006
• Subjects: Avian flu
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11568/100427

In medical research, the strategic design of drugs directed to specific viral targets appears an expanding chemotherapic approach. In this field, neuraminidase (NA) and inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) are two key enzymes, whose inhibition may be expected to effect viral RNA. Oseltamivir [(3E,4R,5S)-4-acetamiido-5-amino-3-(1-ethylpropoxy)-1-cyclohexane-1-carboxylic acid), OS] is a NA inhibitor and represents the innovative compound well known for its activity against influenza A virus and avian flu, and selenazole (2--D-ribofuranosylselenazole-4-carboxamide, SE) belong to IMPDH inhibitors whose antiviral action is extensively reported against many human viruses. Referring to our encouraging therapeutic results obtained with some IMPDH inhibitors against Cucumber mosaic cucumovirus (CMV) on Nicotiana tabacum cv Xanthi, the aim of this research was to continue this chemotherapic experience with SE treatment and to assay antiviral activity of OS on the same in vitro system. The drugs were administered individually for 4 consequently subcultures. ELISA test was assayed on treated explants after each therapeutic cycle and biological assays were performed at the end of the trials to control the sanitary conditions on N. benthamiana plants. Either tests showed 100% sanitized explants following selenazole and oseltamivir administrations. We provided compelling evidence that IMPDH and NA inhibitors obtained eradication of the CMV infection in N. tabacum. It’s to point out the relevant evidence of SE activity, which provided the highest percentage of risanation, reffering to the other IMPDH inhibitors like tiazofurin, benzamide riboside and mycophenolic acid previously reported on the last occasion of the XII Meeting SIPaV.