Campanella L, Delfini M, Ercole P, Iacoangeli A, Risuleo G
Dipartimento di Chimica, Università La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
Biochimie. 2002 Apr;84(4):329-34. doi: 10.1016/s0300-9084(02)01386-x.
Usnic acid is a normal component of lichen cells. This natural compound has shown different biological and physiological activities that might have a great relevance in pharmacology and clinics. For instance, usnic acid is known for its antibacterial and antiparasitic action. Also, the drug has a potential interest in cancer therapy because of its antimitotic and antiproliferative action. The molecular structure of usnic acid has been validated and further explored in this investigation. Many biological properties of this drug are known; however its potential antiviral action has not yet been evaluated. In this paper, we demonstrate that usnic acid is a potent inhibitor of the proliferation of mouse polyomavirus. Its action is not exerted at the level of virion entry into the host cell. Moreover, the abolition of viral DNA replication is an indirect consequence of the drastic inhibition of RNA transcription.
松萝酸是地衣细胞的正常组成成分。这种天然化合物已显示出不同的生物学和生理活性，这在药理学和临床应用中可能具有重大意义。例如，松萝酸以其抗菌和抗寄生虫作用而闻名。此外，由于其抗有丝分裂和抗增殖作用，该药物在癌症治疗方面具有潜在价值。在本研究中，松萝酸的分子结构已得到验证并作了进一步探究。这种药物的许多生物学特性是已知的；然而，其潜在的抗病毒作用尚未得到评估。在本文中，我们证明松萝酸是小鼠多瘤病毒增殖的有效抑制剂。其作用并非在病毒粒子进入宿主细胞的层面发挥。此外，病毒DNA复制的消除是RNA转录受到强烈抑制的间接结果。
