Abstract
Lipophilic and hydrophilic extracts of over 900 strains of cultured blue-green algae
(cyanophyta) were examined in vitro for their ability to inhibit the reverse transcriptases (RT) of avian myeloblastosis
virus (AMV) and human immunodeficiency virus, type 1 (HIV-1). Eighteen (2.0%) aqueous
extracts showed activity against AMV and HIV RTs. The maximal level of RT inhibition
achieved by some of the active extracts was equivalent to that measured for 3′-azido-2′,3′-di-deoxythymidine
(AZT) at 668 ng/ml. Examination of partially purified fractions prepared by C18 column
chromatography demonstrated that the RT inhibition observed could not be attributed
entirely to the degradation of transcript DNA, template RNA, or enzyme protein in
the reaction mixture. Thus, these results indicate that cultured blue-green algae
may represent a novel source of compounds that inhibit RT activity, including that
of HIV-1.
Key words
Blue-green algae - reverse transcriptase activity - HIV - extracts - inhibitors
