Differential antiviral activity of benzastatin C and its dechlorinated derivative from Streptomyces nitrosporeus

Abstract

Benzastatin C, a 3-chloro-tetrahydroquinolone alkaloid from Streptomyces nitrosporeus, showed antiviral activity in a dose-dependant manner with EC 50 values of 1.92, 0.53, and 1.99 μg/ml against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), respectively. In contrast, benzastatin D, the corresponding dechlorinated derivative, did not exhibit any antiviral activity. These results indicate that the antiviral activity of benzastatin C is mediated, in part, due to the chlorine moiety in its molecular structure. © 2007 Pharmaceutical Society of Japan.