Melicopteline A-E, Unusual Cyclopeptide Alkaloids with Antiviral Activity against Influenza A Virus from Melicope pteleifolia

J Org Chem. 2021 Jan 15;86(2):1437-1447. doi: 10.1021/acs.joc.0c02137. Epub 2020 Dec 28.

Abstract

In the search for antiviral cyclopeptides against influenza A virus, five unprecedented Caryophyllaceae-type cyclopeptides (1-5) were isolated from the leaves of Melicope pteleifolia. Their chemical structures and absolute configurations were unambiguously determined by means of advanced Marfey's analysis and comprehensive spectroscopic analyses including two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance and MS/MS fragmentation. Interestingly, compounds 3-5 contain an unusual heterocycle, a 3a-hydroxypyrroloindole moiety, which was biosynthetically formed by a nucleophilic cyclization from the least abundant amino acid, tryptophan, precursor and has aroused a great interest in the aspect of chemical diversity and biological activity. All isolates (1-5) were evaluated for their protective effects against influenza A viruses H1N1 and H9N2 in MDCK cells. All isolated cyclopeptides exhibited strong anti-influenza activity, especially against H1N1. Compound 3 showed the most potent CPE inhibition effect, which was stronger than that of the positive control ribavirin against H1N1, with an EC50 (μM) of 2.57 ± 0.45 along with higher selectivity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alkaloids*
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology
  • Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype*
  • Influenza A Virus, H9N2 Subtype*
  • Peptides, Cyclic / pharmacology
  • Rutaceae*
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Substances

  • Alkaloids
  • Antiviral Agents
  • Peptides, Cyclic