Discovery of New Ginsenol-Like Compounds with High Antiviral Activity

Molecules. 2021 Nov 10;26(22):6794. doi: 10.3390/molecules26226794.

Abstract

A number of framework amides with a ginsenol backbone have been synthesized using the Ritter reaction. We named the acetamide as Ginsamide. A method was developed for the synthesis of the corresponding amine and thioacetamide. The new compounds revealed a high activity against H1N1 influenza, which was confirmed using an animal model. Biological experiments were performed to determine the mechanism of action of the new agents, a ginsamide-resistant strain of influenza virus was obtained, and the pathogenicity of the resistant strain and the control strain was studied. It was shown that the emergence of resistance to Ginsamide was accompanied by a reduction in the pathogenicity of the influenza virus.

Keywords: Ginsamide; Ginsenol; antiviral agent; influenza; molecular modeling; resistance; surface protein.

MeSH terms

  • Amides / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Antiviral Agents / isolation & purification
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line
  • China
  • Drug Resistance, Viral
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / drug effects
  • Influenza, Human / drug therapy
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Neuraminidase / pharmacology
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / drug therapy
  • Sesquiterpenes / chemistry*
  • Sesquiterpenes / isolation & purification*
  • Sesquiterpenes / metabolism

Substances

  • Amides
  • Antiviral Agents
  • Sesquiterpenes
  • ginsenol
  • Neuraminidase