Abstract: Anti-viral compounds with low cytotoxicity are identified from screening of products found in Red Sea sponges, including the sponge Stylissa carteri. The identified compounds can be brominated pyrrole-2-aminoimidazole alkaloids and derivatives thereof. Specific examples of identified compounds include oroidin, hymenialdisine, and debromohymenialdisine, as well as derivatives thereof. The compounds also can be useful scaffolds or pharmacores for further chemical modification and derivatization. Selected compounds, particularly oroidin, show selective anti-viral HIV-1 activity coupled with reduced cytotoxicity. The compounds can function as HIV reverse-transcriptase inhibitors, and molecular modeling can be used to confirm inhibition.

Abstract: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) causes AIDS, a life-threatening disease characterized by immunosuppressive, opportunistic infections and malignancies. Although many drugs have been approved over the past decade as suitable for use in the treatment of individuals with HIV, the need for antiviral drugs of greater efficiency is still pressing. One valuable source for antiviral bioactivity has been proven to be the natural products of a wide range of plants. In this study, we investigated the anti-reverse transcriptase (RT)-HIV-1 potential activity of Avicennia marina (gray mangrove) collected from the Red Sea shore, Saudi Arabia. Metabolites from A. marina were extracted using organic solvents followed by solid phase extraction (SPE) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was applied to assess the active HPLC fractions and to establish a correlation between the fractions' chemical composition and biological activity.

Abstract: Anti-viral compounds with low cytotoxicity are identified from screening of products found in Red Sea sponges, including the sponge Stylissa carteri. The identified compounds can be brominated pyrrole-2-aminoimidazole alkaloids and derivatives thereof. Specific examples of identified compounds include oroidin, hymenialdisine, and debromohymenialdisine, as well as derivatives thereof. The compounds also can be useful scaffolds or pharmacores for further chemical modification and derivatization. Selected compounds, particularly oroidin, show selective anti-viral HIV-1 activity coupled with reduced cytotoxicity. The compounds can function as HIV reverse-transcriptase inhibitors, and molecular modeling can be used to confirm inhibition.

Abstract: Anti-viral compounds with low cytotoxicity are identified from screening of products found in Red Sea sponges, including the sponge Stylissa carteri. The identified compounds can be brominated pyrrole-2-aminoimidazole alkaloids and derivatives thereof. Specific examples of identified compounds include oroidin, hymenialdisine, and debromohymenialdisine, as well as derivatives thereof. The compounds also can be useful scaffolds or pharmacores for further chemical modification and derivatization. Selected compounds, particularly oroidin, show selective anti-viral HIV-1 activity coupled with reduced cytotoxicity. The compounds can function as HIV reverse-transcriptase inhibitors, and molecular modeling can be used to confirm inhibition.

Abstract: Method for treating a viral infection in a patient, comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a compound, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, comprising a moiety represented by figure (I), wherein R1 is a saturated or unsaturated bivalent hydrocarbon group. Viruses subject to treatment can include HIV and flaviviruses such as west nile, dengue, or hepatitis C virus. Compositions and methods of isolation and purification are also described including from the Red Sea sponge.

Abstract: Cell-based phenotypic profiling and image based high-content screening are used to gain insight into the mode of action and potential cellular targets of plants historically used to determine anti-cancer activity of Saudi Arabian plants Juniperus phoenicea (Arar), Anastatica hierochuntica (Kaff Maryam), and Citrullus colocynthis (Hanzal). The cytological profiles of fractions taken from the plants were compared with a set of reference compounds with known modes of action. Cluster analyses of the cytological profiles were performed, which revealed detailed information on the modes of action of the tested compounds as potential topoisomerase inhibitors. Cytological profiles showed that some of these compounds inhibited cell proliferation causing cell cycle disruption.

Abstract: Method for treating a viral infection in a patient, comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a compound, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, comprising a moiety represented by figure (I), wherein R1 is a saturated or unsaturated bivalent hydrocarbon group. Viruses subject to treatment can include HIV and flaviviruses such as west nile, dengue, or hepatitis C virus. Compositions and methods of isolation and purification are also described including from the Red Sea sponge.

Abstract: Method for treating a viral infection in a patient, comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a compound, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, comprising a moiety represented by figure (I), wherein R1 is a saturated or unsaturated bivalent hydrocarbon group. Viruses subject to treatment can include HIV and flaviviruses such as west nile, dengue, or hepatitis C virus. Compositions and methods of isolation and purification are also described including from the Red Sea sponge.

Abstract: Anti-viral compounds with low cytotoxicity are identified from screening of products found in Red Sea sponges, including the sponge Stylissa carteri. The identified compounds can be brominated pyrrole-2-aminoimidazole alkaloids and derivatives thereof. Specific examples of identified compounds include oroidin, hymenialdisine, and debromohymenialdisine, as well as derivatives thereof. The compounds also can be useful scaffolds or pharmacores for further chemical modification and derivatization. Selected compounds, particularly oroidin, show selective anti-viral HIV-1 activity coupled with reduced cytotoxicity. The compounds can function as HIV reverse-transcriptase inhibitors, and molecular modeling can be used to confirm inhibition.