Anti-neuraminidase activity of chemical constituents of Balanophora involucrata

Balanophora involucrata J. D. Hooker has been known to possess potential anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activities; however, its antiviral activity has not been evaluated so far. In order to find new neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs), the neuraminidase (NA) inhibition activity of different B. involucrata extracts was evaluated. In this study, an in vitro NA inhibition assay was performed to identify which extract of B. involucrata exhibits (maximal) inhibitory activity against NA. Ultra high performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight–tandem mass spectroscopy (MS/MS) and molecular docking techniques were used to identify the specific compounds responsible for the anti-influenza activity of the extract, and to explore the potential natural NAIs. The ethyl acetate extract of B. involucrata exhibited significant inhibitory activity against NA with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) value of 159.5 μg/mL. Twenty compounds were identified according to the MS/MS spectra; among them two compounds (quercitrin and phloridzin) showed obvious inhibitory activity against NA, with IC₅₀ of 311.76 and 347.32 μmol/L, respectively. This study suggested that B. involucrata can be a potential natural source of NAIs and may be useful in the fight against ferocious influenza viruses.     

杂多配合物抗流感病毒活性

杂多配合物抗流感病毒活性刘杰王丽君＊＊周云山王恩波＊（东北师范大学化学系长春１３００２４；＊＊吉林医学院吉林）关键词杂多化合物，流感病毒，活性１９９７－０７－０９收稿，１９９７－０９－０１修回国家自然科学基金资助课题杂多化合物的药物化学已被广泛关注［...     

Total Synthesis of Sialylated Glycans Related to Avian and Human Influenza Virus Infection

Human and avian influenza type A viruses bind sialylated pentasaccharides. Herein, the total synthesis of four of these glycans is reported. Efficient sialylations relied on two N‐Troc‐protected (Troc=2,2,2‐trichloroethoxycarbonyl) sialic acid building blocks. The first, a thiophenyl glycoside, readily produced the sialyl‐α(2‐6)galactose disaccharide. Combination of the second building block, a novel glycosyl phosphite, and a benzylidene‐protected galactoside produced the best results for the formation of the sialyl‐α(2‐3)galactose. Two common trisaccharides were assembled by the introduction of glucose, galactose, and glucosamine building blocks followed by selective deprotection. Two sets of pentasaccharides were obtained by the union of two sialylgalactose N‐phenyl trifluoroacetimidate building blocks with the two trisaccharides above. Global deprotection furnished the desired pentasaccharides. The products of these total syntheses are currently employed on the surface of carbohydrate microarrays to detect and type different strains of the influenza virus.     

The Biological Effects of Forsythia Leaves Containing the Cyclic AMP Phosphodiesterase 4 Inhibitor Phillyrin

Forsythia fruit (Forsythia suspensa Vahl (Oleaceae)) is a common component of Kampo medicines for treating the common cold, influenza, and allergies. The main polyphenolic compounds in the leaves of F. suspensa are pinoresinol β-d-glucoside, phillyrin and forsythiaside, and their levels are higher in the leaves of the plant than in the fruit. It is known that polyphenolic compounds stimulate lipid catabolism in the liver and suppress dyslipidemia, thereby attenuating diet-induced obesity and polyphenolic anti-oxidants might attenuate obesity in animals consuming high-fat diets. Recently, phillyrin was reported as a novel cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor derived from forsythia fruit. It was expected that the leaves of F. suspensa might display anti-obesity effects and serve as a health food material. In this review, we summarized our studies on the biological effects of forsythia leaves containing phillyrin and other polyphenolic compounds, particularly against obesity, atopic dermatitis, and influenza A virus infection, and its potential as a phytoestrogen.     

甲型H1N1流感的死亡率高吗——Bayes计量分析框架下的建模与估算

在全球甲型H1N1流感大流行背景下,本文在充分考虑各国甲流感死亡率可能存在个体混合效应、独立效应、相关效应及空间相关效应基础上,运用Bayes计量分析框架下的模型选择标准确定描述各国甲流感死亡率的最优模型,并基于该模型对不同国家甲流感死亡率进行估算。结果显示:个体独立、空间相关效应模型能很好拟合各国甲流感疫情统计数据,利用该模型估算的全球甲流感平均死亡率为0.577%。     

Volatiles and Antifungal-Antibacterial-Antiviral Activity of South African Salvia spp. Essential Oils Cultivated in Uniform Conditions

Spontaneous emissions of S. dentata Aiton and S. scabra Thunb., as well as the essential oil (EO) composition of the cited species, together with S. aurea L., were investigated. The chemical profile of the first two species is reported here for the first time. Moreover, in vitro tests were performed to evaluate the antifungal activity of these EOs on Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum canis, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, and Fusarium solani. Secondly, the EO antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus pseudointermedius was examined, and their antiviral efficacy against the H1N1 influenza virus was assessed. Leaf volatile organic compounds (VOCs), as well as the EOs obtained from the arial part of Salvia scabra, were characterized by a high percentage of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (97.8% and 76.6%, respectively), mostly represented by an equal amount of germacrene D (32.8% and 32.7%, respectively). Both leaf and flower spontaneous emissions of S. dentata, as well as the EO composition, showed a prevalence of monoterpenes divided into a more or less equal amount of hydrocarbon and oxygenated compounds. Interestingly, its EO had a non-negligible percentage of oxygenated sesquiterpenes (29.5%). S. aurea EO, on the contrary, was rich in sesquiterpenes, both hydrocarbons and oxygenated compounds (41.5% and 33.5%, respectively). S. dentata EO showed good efficacy (Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC): 0.5%) against M. canis. The tested EOs were not active against E. coli and S. aureus, whereas a low inhibition of S. dentata EO was observed on S. pseudointermedius (MIC = 10%). Once again, S. dentata EO showed a very good H1N1 inhibition; contrariwise, S. aurea EO was completely inactive against this virus. The low quantity of S. scabra EO made it impossible to test its biological activity. S. dentata EO exhibited interesting new perspectives for medicinal and industrial uses.     

Organocatalytic and Scalable Synthesis of the Anti‐Influenza Drugs Zanamivir,Laninamivir, and CS‐8958

Zanamivir, laninamivir, and CS‐8958 are three neuraminidase inhibitors that have been clinically used to combat influenza. We report herein a novel organocatalytic route for preparing these agents. Only 13 steps are needed for the assembly of zanamivir and laninamivir from inexpensive D ‐araboascorbic acid by this synthetic route, which relies heavily on a thiourea‐catalyzed enantioselective Michael addition of acetone to tert‐butyl (2‐nitrovinyl)carbamate and an anti‐selective Henry reaction of the resulting Michael adduct with an aldehyde prepared from D ‐araboascorbic acid. The synthetic procedures are scalable, as evident from the preparation of more than 3.5 g of zanamivir.     

Current Status of COVID-19 (Pre)Clinical Vaccine Development

The current COVID-19 pandemic has a tremendous impact on daily life world-wide. Despite the ability to dampen the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of the diseases, through restrictive interventions, it is believed that only effective vaccines will provide sufficient control over the disease and revert societal live back to normal. At present, a double-digit number of efforts are devoted to the development of a vaccine against COVID-19. Here, we provide an overview of these (pre)clinical efforts and provide background information on the technologies behind these vaccines. In addition, we discuss potential hurdles that need to be addressed prior to mass scale clinical translation of successful vaccine candidates.     

黑色素对流感病毒诱导细胞凋亡的抑制效应

用荧光染色技术及流式细胞仪分析方法研究了 Ａ１／京防８６１ 和 Ｂ／沪防９３１ 两株流感病毒感染与细胞凋亡的关系,探讨利用嗜麦芽假单胞菌黑色素抑制流感病毒诱导 Ｍ Ｄ Ｃ Ｋ 细胞凋亡的可能性 结果显示：黑色素在 １００ ｍ ｇ· Ｌ－ １ 浓度范围内,对 Ｍ Ｄ Ｃ Ｋ 细胞无细胞毒性; Ａ１／京防 ８６１ 和 Ｂ／沪防 ９３１ 两株流感病毒均可诱导 Ｍ Ｄ Ｃ Ｋ细胞凋亡,但二者存在毒力差异（ｐ＜ ０．０５）病毒感染１２ ｈ 后,荧光染色可观察到典型的凋亡核形态,流式细胞仪则可检测到病毒诱导 Ｍ Ｄ Ｃ Ｋ 细胞产生的凋亡峰,且细胞凋亡率分别为３７．０２％ 和 ２７２９％ ;２０ ｍ ｇ· Ｌ－ １ 的黑色素可有效抑制两株流感病毒诱导细胞凋亡,使细胞凋亡指数从２５％ ～３５％ 降至３％ 以下 结果表明,黑色素可以抑制 Ａ 和 Ｂ型流感病毒诱导细胞凋亡