Download PDF
Planta Med 2002; 68(2): 106-110
DOI: 10.1055/s-2002-20238
Original Paper
Pharmacology
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Antiviral Activity of Seven Iridoids, Three Saikosaponins and One Phenylpropanoid Glycoside Extracted from Bupleurum rigidum and Scrophularia scorodonia

Paulina Bermejo1 , María José Abad1 , Ana María Díaz2 , Lidia Fernández2 , Javier De Santos2 , Sandra Sanchez2 , Lucinda Villaescusa2 , Luis Carrasco3 , Alicia Irurzun3
  • 1Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University Complutense, Madrid, Spain
  • 2Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University Alcala, Madrid, Spain
  • 3Centro de Biología Molecular (CSIC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma, Madrid, Spain
Further Information

Publication History

March 9, 2001

March 31, 2001

Publication Date:
22 February 2002 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

As part of our screening of antiviral agents from medicinal plants, 11 compounds from plant origin (Bupleurum rigidum and Scrophularia scorodonia), three saikosaponins, seven iridoids and one phenylpropanoid glycoside were tested in vitro against herpes simplex type I (HSV-1), vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and poliovirus type 1. Five of these compounds showed antiviral activity against VSV. The percentages of cellular viability at the non-toxic limit concentrations of the active compounds were: verbascoside 53.6 % at 500 μg/ml, 8-acetylharpagide 32.1 % at 500 μg/ml, harpagoside 43.3 % at 450 μg/ml, scorodioside 47.8 % at 500 μg/ml and buddlejasaponin IV 56.9 % at 25 μg/ml. Although none of the saikosaponins were active against HSV-1, the iridoid scorodioside showed moderate in vitro anti-HSV-1 activity (30.6 % at 500 μg/ml). However, none of the compounds tested in this survey had any effect against poliovirus.

Key words

Iridoids - saikosaponins - verbascoside - Bupleurum rigidum - Umbelliferae - Scrophularia scorodonia - Scrophulariaceae - antiviral activity

References

  • 1 Ng T B, Huang B, Fong W P, Yeung H W. Anti-human immunodeficiency virus (anti-HIV) natural products with special emphasis on HIV reverse transcriptase inhibitors.  Life Sciences. 1997;  61 933-49
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 2 Vlietinck A J, De Bruyne T, Apers S, Pieters L A. Plant-derived leading compounds for chemotherapy of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.  Planta Medica. 1998;  64 97-109
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 3 Utrilla M P, Zarzuelo A, Risco S, Ocete M A, Gimenez J, Gamez M. Isolation of a saikosaponin responsible for the anti-inflammatory activity of Bupleurum gibraltaricum Lam. root extracts.  Phytotheraphy Research. 1991;  5 43-5
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 4 Sanchez-Contreras S, Díaz-Lanza A M, Matellano L F, Bernabe M. Ollivier E, Balansard G, Faure R. A sulfated saponin from Bupleurum rigidum .  Journal of Natural Products. 1998;  61 1383-5
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 5 Hayashi K, Hayashi H, Hiraoka N, Ikeshiro Y. Inhibitory activity of soyasaponin II on virus replication in vitro .  Planta Medica. 1997;  63 102-5
    Thieme ConnectPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 6 Sindambiwe J B, Calomme M, Geerts S, Pieters L, Vlietinck A J, Vanden Berghe D A. Evaluation of biological activities of triterpenoid saponins from Maesa lanceolata .  Journal of Natural Products. 1998;  61 585-90
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 7 Ahn B Z, Yoon Y D, Lee Y H, Kim B H, Sok D E. Inhibitory effects of bupleuri radix saponins on adhesion of some solid tumor cells and relation to hemolytic action: screening of 232 herbal drugs for anti-cell adhesion.  Planta Medica. 1998;  64 220-4
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 8 Kinjo J, Imagire M, Uduyama M, Arao T, Nohara T. Structure-hepatoprotective relationships of soyasaponins I-IV having soyasapogenol B as aglycone.  Planta Medica. 1998;  64 233-6
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 9 Bermejo P, Abad M J, Silván A M, Sanz A, Fernández L, Sánchez-Contreras S, Díaz Lanza A M. In vivo and in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of saikosaponins.  Life Sciences. 1998;  63 1147-56
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 10 Miyagoshi M, Amagaya S, Ogihara Y. Chloretic action of iridoid compounds.  Journal of PharmacobioDynamics. 1988;  11 186-90
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 11 Breschi M C, Martinotti E, Catalano S, Flamini G, Morelli I, Pagni A M. Vasoconstrictor activity of 8-acetylharpagide from Ajuga reptans .  Journal of Natural Products. 1992;  55 1145-8
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 12 Kapadia G J, Sharma S C, Tokuda H, Nishino H, Ueda S. Inhibitory effect of iridoids on Epstein-Barr virus activation by a short-term in vitro assay for anti-tumor promoters.  Cancer Letters. 1996;  102 223-6
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 13 Chen J L, Blanc P, Stoddart C A, Bogan M, Rozhon E J, Parkinson N, Ye Z, Cooper R ., Balick M, Nanakorn W, Kernan M R. New iridoids from the medicinal plant Barleria prionitis with potent activity against respiratory syncytial virus.  Journal of Natural Products. 1998;  61 1295-7
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 14 Bermejo P, Díaz A M, Silván A M, De Santos J, Fernández L, Sanz A, Abad M J. Effects of some iridoids from plant origin on arachidonic acid metabolism in cellular systems.  Planta Medica. 2000;  66 324-8
    Thieme ConnectPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 15 Fernández-Matellano L, Díaz-Lanza A M, Ollivier E, Faure R, Balansard G. An iridoid diglycoside isolated from Scrophularia scorodonia .  Phytochemistry. 1995;  40 1569-71
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 16 Fernández-Matellano L, Ollivier E, Díaz-Lanza A M, Faure R, Balansard G. Iridoids from Scrophularia scorodonia .  Planta Medica. 1995;  61 63
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 17 De Santos J, Fernández L, Díaz-Lanza A M, Rubio B, Ollivier E, Faure R, Balansard G. Catalpol Glycosides from Scrophularia scorodonia .  Pharmazie. 1998;  53 4
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 18 González M E, Alarcón B, Carrasco L. Polysaccharides as antiviral agents: Antiviral activity of carrageenan.  Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 1987;  31 1388-93
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 19 González M E, Martínez-Abarca F, Carrasco L. Flavonoids: Potent inhibitors of poliovirus RNA synthesis.  Antiviral Chemistry and Chemotherapy. 1990;  1 203-9
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar

Dr. Paulina Bermejo Benito

Department of Pharmacology

Faculty of Pharmacy

University Complutense

28040 Madrid

Spain

Email: naber@eucmax.sim.ucm.es

Fax: + 34 - 1-3 941 726