Design, synthesis, antiviral activity and mode of action of phenanthrene-containing N-heterocyclic compounds inspired by the phenanthroindolizidine alkaloid antofine

Chemical and Biological Investigations of Antiviral Agents Against Plant Viruses Conducted in China in the 21st Century

Research into the biology of plant viruses, their mechanisms of pathogenicity, and the induction of host resistance has laid a solid foundation for the discovery of antiviral agents and their targets and the development of effective control technologies. Additionally, recent advancements in fields such as chemical biology, cheminformatics, bioinformatics, and synthetic biology have provided valuable methods and tools for the design of antiviral drugs, the synthesis of drug molecules, assessment of their activity, and investigation of their modes of action. Compared with drug development for human viral diseases, the control of plant viral diseases presents greater challenges, including the cost-benefit of agents, simplification of control technologies, and the effectiveness of treatments. Therefore, in the current context of complex outbreaks and severe damage caused by plant viral diseases, it is crucial to delve deeper into the research and development of antiviral agents. This review provides a detailed overview of the biological characteristics of current targets for antiviral agents, the mode of interaction between plant virus targets and antivirals, and insights for future drug development. We believe this review will not only facilitate the in-depth analysis of the development of antivirals for crops but also offer valuable perspectives for the development of antiviral agents for use in human and veterinary medicine.

Recent Advances of Coumarin-Type Compounds in Discovery of Pesticides

Coumarin, a naturally occurring active ingredient with various biological activities in pesticides, is commonly found in plants belonging to the Rutaceae and Apiaceae families. Thanks to its unique structural properties and natural benefits, coumarin and its derivatives exhibit a wide range of physiological activities, including insecticidal, antifungal, antibacterial, herbicidal, and antiviral properties. These compounds have attracted considerable interest in the field of pesticide development, although there is a lack of comprehensive reviews on their use in pesticides. This Review aims to provide a detailed overview of the applications of coumarin and its derivatives in pesticides, covering biological activities, structure-activity relationship analyses, and mechanisms of action. It is hoped that this Review will offer new insights into the discovery and mechanisms of these compounds in pesticide development.

N-Heterocycles as Promising Antiviral Agents: A Comprehensive Overview

Viruses are a real threat to every organism at any stage of life leading to extensive infections and casualties. N-heterocycles can affect the viral life cycle at many points, including viral entrance into host cells, viral genome replication, and the production of novel viral species. Certain N-heterocycles can also stimulate the host's immune system, producing antiviral cytokines and chemokines that can stop the reproduction of viruses. This review focused on recent five- or six-membered synthetic N-heterocyclic molecules showing antiviral activity through SAR analyses. The review will assist in identifying robust scaffolds that might be utilized to create effective antiviral drugs with either no or few side effects.

Emerging challenges in the management of Orthotospoviruses in Indian agriculture

Orthotospoviruses, a genera of negative-sense ssRNA viruses transmitted by thrips, have gained significant attention in recent years due to their detrimental impact on diverse crops, causing substantial economic losses and posing threats to food security. Orthotospoviruses are characterised by a wide range of symptoms in plants, including chlorotic/necrotic spots, vein banding, and fruit deformation. Seven species, including four definite and three tentative species in the genus Orthotospovirus, have so far been documented on the crops of the Indian subcontinent. Management of Orthotospoviruses under field conditions is challenging since they have a wide host range, adaptation to versatile environmental conditions, a lack of promising resistance sources, and the ubiquitous nature of thrips and their transmission through a propagative manner. Our present review elucidates the significance, molecular biology and evolutionary relationship of Orthotospoviruses; vector population; and possible management strategies for Orthotospoviruses and their vectors in the scenario of the Indian subcontinent.

Piperazine Derivatives Containing the α-Ketoamide Moiety Discovered as Potential Anti-Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus Agents

A total of 35 piperazine derivatives were designed and synthesized, and their activities against tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) were evaluated systematically. Compounds 34 and 35 with significant anti-TSWV activity were obtained. Their EC₅₀ values were 62.4 and 59.9 μg/mL, prominently better than the control agents ningnanmycin (113.7 μg/mL) and ribavirin (591.1 μg/mL). To explore the mechanism of the interaction between these compounds and the virus, we demonstrated by agrobacterium-mediated, molecular docking, and microscale thermophoresis (MST) experimental methods that compounds 34 and 35 could inhibit the infection of TSWV by binding with the N protein to prevent the assembly of the virus core structure ribonucleoprotein (RNP), and it also meant that the arginine at 94 of the N protein was the key site of interaction between the compounds and the TSWV N target. Therefore, this study demonstrated the potential for forming antiviral agents from piperazine derivatives containing α-ketoamide moieties.

Synthesis and antiviral activity of diverse heterocyclic scaffolds

Heterocyclic moieties form a major part of organic chemistry as they are widely distributed in nature and have wide scale practical applications ranging from extensive clinical use to diverse fields such as medicine, agriculture, photochemistry, biocidal formulations, and polymer science. By virtue of their therapeutic properties, they could be employed in combating many infectious diseases. Among the common infectious diseases, viral infections are of great public health importance worldwide. Thus, there is an urgent need for the discovery and development of antiviral drugs and clinical methods to prevent various viral infections so as to increase the life expectancy. This review presents the comprehensive overview of the synthesis and antiviral activity of different heterocyclic compounds 2015 onwards, which aids in present knowledge and helps the researchers and other stakeholders to explore their field.

Lignin Biosynthesis Pathway and Redox Balance Act Synergistically in Conferring Resistance against Penicillium italicum Infection in 7-Demethoxytylophorine-Treated Navel Orange

7-Demethoxytylophorine (DEM), a natural water-soluble phenanthroindolizidine alkaloid, has a great potential for in vitro suppression of Penicillium italicum growth. In the present study, we investigated the ability of DEM to confer resistance against P. italicum in harvested "Newhall" navel orange and the underlying mechanism. Results from the in vivo experiment showed that DEM treatment delayed blue mold development. The water-soaked lesion diameter in 40 mg L^-1 DEM-treated fruit was 35.2% lower than that in the control after 96 h. Moreover, the decrease in peel firmness loss and increase in electrolyte leakage, superoxide anion (O₂^•-) production, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were significantly inhibited by DEM treatment. Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) burst in DEM-treated fruit at the early stage of P. italicum infection contributed to the conferred resistance by increasing the activities of lignin biosynthesis-related enzymes, along with the expressions of their encoding genes, resulting in lignin accumulation. The DEM-treated fruit maintained an elevated antioxidant capacity, as evidenced by high levels of ascorbic acid and glutathione content, and enhanced or upregulated the activities and gene expression levels of APX, GR, MDHAR, DHAR, GPX, and GST, thereby maintaining ROS homeostasis and reducing postharvest blue mold. Collectively, the results in the present study revealed a control mechanism in which DEM treatment conferred the resistance against P. italicum infection in harvested "Newhall" navel orange fruit by activating lignin biosynthesis and maintaining the redox balance.

Recent Research Progress: Discovery of Anti-Plant Virus Agents Based on Natural Scaffold

Plant virus diseases, also known as “plant cancers”, cause serious harm to the agriculture of the world and huge economic losses every year. Antiviral agents are one of the most effective ways to control plant virus diseases. Ningnanmycin is currently the most successful anti-plant virus agent, but its field control effect is not ideal due to its instability. In recent years, great progress has been made in the research and development of antiviral agents, the mainstream research direction is to obtain antiviral agents or lead compounds based on structural modification of natural products. However, no antiviral agent has been able to completely inhibit plant viruses. Therefore, the development of highly effective antiviral agents still faces enormous challenges. Therefore, we reviewed the recent research progress of anti-plant virus agents based on natural products in the past decade, and discussed their structure-activity relationship (SAR) and mechanism of action. It is hoped that this review can provide new inspiration for the discovery and mechanism of action of novel antiviral agents.

Antofine Triggers the Resistance Against Penicillium italicum in Ponkan Fruit by Driving AsA-GSH Cycle and ROS-Scavenging System

Postharvest fungal infection can accelerate the quality deterioration of Ponkan fruit and reduce its commodity value. Penicillium italicum is the causal pathogen of blue mold in harvested citrus fruits, not only causing huge fungal decay but also leading to quality deterioration. In our preliminary study, antofine (ATF) was found to have a great potential for significant in vitro suppression of P. italicum growth. However, the regulatory mechanism underpinning ATF-triggered resistance against P. italicum in citrus fruit remains unclear. Here, the protective effects of ATF treatment on blue mold development in harvested Ponkan fruit involving the enhancement of ROS-scavenging system were investigated. Results showed that ATF treatment delayed blue mold development and peel firmness loss. Moreover, the increase of electrolyte leakage, O2 •- production, and malonyldialdehyde accumulation was significantly inhibited by ATF treatment. The ATF-treated Ponkan fruit maintained an elevated antioxidant capacity, as evidenced by inducted the increase in glutathione (GSH) content, delayed the declines of ascorbic acid (AsA) content and GSH/oxidized GSH ratio, and enhanced the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, and six key AsA-GSH cycle-related enzymes, along with their encoding gene expressions, thereby maintaining ROS homeostasis and reducing postharvest blue mold in harvested Ponkan fruit. Collectively, the current study revealed a control mechanism based on ATF-triggered resistance and maintenance of a higher redox state by driving AsA-GSH cycle and ROS-scavenging system in P. italicum-infected Ponkan fruit.

3D HeLa spheroids as a model for investigating the anticancer activity of Biginelli-hybrids

In previous study, we examined the anticancer effects of novel Biginelli-hybrids against HeLa cell line on 2D monolayer culture. The five most effective compounds were chosen for further analysis of their anticancer activity against HeLa spheroids. Using the 3D models implies the possible differences in anticancer effects and mechanisms of activity of tested compounds. The compounds 4c and 4d exerted the strongest activity against 3D HeLa spheroids and induced to some extent loosened cell-cell contacts in spheroids, leading to the largest reduction in the diameter of the spheroids. Additionally, the highest accumulation of the cells in the subG1 phase of the cell cycle was observed after the treatment with compounds 4d and 4c, while the compound 4f led to the G2/M arrest. The invasion potential of treated HeLa cells in spheroids was monitored by imaging of spheroids embedded in a matrix made of matrigel and collagen and by determination of MMP2, MMP9, and VEGF gene expression levels. The compound 4l did not show invasion-suppressive activity, while the compounds 4c and 4d exerted the strongest anti-invasive activity.

Marine-natural-products for biocides development: first discovery of meridianin alkaloids as antiviral and anti-phytopathogenic-fungus agents

BACKGROUND

Food is an important strategic material related to national economy and people's livelihood. Plant diseases seriously affect crop yield and quality. Marine natural products are an important source for novel drugs discovery. In this work, meridianin alkaloids were selected as the parent structure. A series of meridianin alkaloid analogues were rationally designed, synthesized and evaluated for their antiviral activities and fungicidal activities.

RESULT

These compounds were found to have good antiviral and fungicidal activities for the first time. The structure-activity relationship (SAR) research revealed that introducing bromine atom at the 5-position of indole ring is beneficial to antiviral activity, but introducing methoxy group is not conducive. Introducing bromine atom at the 6-position of indole ring or nitrogen atom at the 7-position of the indole ring resulted in lower antiviral activity. Most of the meridianin derivatives showed higher anti-TMV activities at 500 μg mL^-1 than Ribavirin, especially for compounds 6c, 8a and 10a. All of the compounds also displayed broad spectrum fungicidal activities against 14 kinds of phytopathogenic fungi at 50 μg mL^-1 .

CONCLUSION

Compound 6c with relatively simple structure and excellent antiviral activity, which is similar to that of Ningnanmycin, emerged as novel anti-TMV lead compound. Compound 5d with broad spectrum and high effect fungicidal activity emerged as a new fungicidal lead compound. Current research lays a solid foundation for the application of meridianin alkaloids in crop protection. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Design, synthesis, anti-TMV activity, and preliminary mechanism of cinnamic acid derivatives containing dithioacetal moiety

A series of cinnamic acid derivatives, which contained dithioacetal moiety, were designed and synthesized, and their anti-plant virus activity against Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) were evaluated. Most target compounds exhibited good anti-plant virus activities. Compound 2y, especially at 500 mg/L concentration, had an excellent activity against TMV, and its curative, protective, and inactivating activities were 62.5%, 61.8%, and 83.5%, respectively. These activity values were significantly superior to those of ribavirin (45.9%, 39.8%, and 70.3%) and xiangcaoliusuobingmi (44.7%, 48.3%, and 71.7%) and comparable to those of ningnanmycin (61.9%, 53.3%, and 85.2%). Compound 2y presented an EC₅₀ value of 50.7 mg/L for inactivating activity against TMV, which was superior to those of ningnanmycin (51.5 mg/L), ribavirin (160.4 mg/L), and xiangcaoliusuobingmi (83.0 mg/L). Through transmission electron microscopy, we found that compound 2y caused a certain degree of damage to TMV particles, which caused them to break and bend. Four conventional hydrogen bonds were formed with amino acid residues GLN34, THR37, ARG90, and ARG46 of TMV coat protein (CP) through molecular docking. Microscale thermophoresis test results showed that compound 2y with TMV CP had a strong binding force, and the dissociation constant (K_d) was 1.6 μM. In summary, the cinnamic acid derivatives containing dithioacetal moiety provide a foundation for further research on antiviral agents.

Synthesis and antiphytoviral activity of α-aminophosphonates containing 3, 5-diphenyl-2-isoxazoline as potential papaya ringspot virus inhibitors

α-Aminophosphonates compounds containing 3,5-diphenyl-2-isoxazoline were synthesized and evaluated for their bioactivity. Seventeen of them showed good bioactivity (protection effect > 50%) in vivo against papaya ringspot virus, while two of them (V29 and V45) exhibited excellent antiviral activity (both 77.8%). In the latter case, the antiviral activity was close to that of antiphytovirucides ningnanmycin and dufulin (both 83.3%) at 500 mg/L. The preliminary structure-activity relationships indicated that the bioactivity was strongly influenced by the substituents.

Antiviral activity of phenanthrenes from the medicinal plant Bletilla striata against influenza A virus

Background

Influenza represents a serious public health concern. The emergence of resistance to anti-influenza drugs underlines the need to develop new drugs. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-influenza viral activity and possible mechanisms of 12 phenanthrenes from the medicinal plant Bletilla striata (Orchidaceae family).

Methods

Twelve phenanthrenes were isolated and identified from B. striata. Influenza virus A/Sydney/5/97 (H3N2) propagated in embryonated chicken eggs was used. Phenanthrenes mixed with the virus were incubated at 37 °C for 1 h and then inoculated into 9-day-old embryonated chicken eggs via the allantoic route to survey the antiviral activity in vivo. A (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H–tetrazolium) (MTS)-based assay was performed to evaluate the reduction of cytopathic effect induced by H3N2 on Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. The hemagglutination inhibition assay was used to study the blockage of virus receptors by the phenanthrenes, and the neuraminidase (NA) inhibition assay to evaluate the effects of the release of virus. The synthesis of influenza viral matrix protein mRNA in response to compound treatment was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Results

This study showed that phenanthrenes 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11, and 12 significantly inhibited the viruses in vivo, with inhibition rates of 20.7, 79.3, 17.2, 34.5, 34.5, 34.5, 44.8, 75.9, and 34.5%, respectively. In MDCK models, the phenanthrenes did not show significant antiviral activity when administered as pretreatment, while phenanthrenes 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 10, and 11 exhibited inhibitory activities as simultaneous treatment with 50% inhibition concentration (IC₅₀) ranging from 14.6 ± 2.4 to 43.3 ± 5.3 μM. The IC₅₀ ranged from 18.4 ± 3.1 to 42.3 ± 3.9 μM in the post-treatment assays. Compounds 1, 3, 4, 6, 10, and 11 exhibited an inhibitory effect on NA; and compounds 2, 3, 4 6, 7, 10, and 11 resulted in the reduced transcription of virus matrix protein mRNA. However, no compound could inhibit hemagglutination by the influenza virus.

Conclusion

Phenanthrenes from B. striata had strong anti-influenza viral activity in both embryonated eggs and MDCK models, and diphenanthrenes seemed to have stronger inhibition activity compared with monophenanthrenes.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12906-017-1780-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Recent Developments on Ultrasound-Assisted Synthesis of Bioactive N-Heterocycles at Ambient Temperature

N-Heterocycles represent privileged structural subunits well distributed in naturally occurring compounds with immense biological activities. The last decade has seen a tremendous practice to carry out reactions at ambient temperature avoiding harsh reaction conditions. By applying ultrasonic radiation in organic synthesis we can make synthetic protocols more sustainable and can carry out reactions at room temperature avoiding the traditional thermal harsh reaction conditions. Therefore the synthesis of biologically relevant N-heterocycles at room temperature under the influence of ultrasonic irradiation is one of the advancing areas in the 21st century among organic chemists. The present review summarises the latest developments on ultrasound-assisted synthesis of biologically relevant N-heterocycles at ambient temperature.