We evaluated, in cell cultures, the action of a series of 19 aporphine alkaloids against Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). On the basis of viral titre reduction, six alkaloids were found to be active. The mode of action of the three most potent inhibitors, oliverine HCl, pachystaudine, and oxostephanine, was studied. These compounds did not have any virucidal or prophylactic effect but they were shown to interfere with the viral replicative cycle. Although DNA synthesis was reduced, their exact target remains to be elucidated. In the discussion, some structure-activity relationships are considered.

A series of 18 aporphinoids have been tested in vitro against human poliovirus. The aporphines (+)-glaucine fumarate (1), (+)-N-methyllaurotetanine (4), (+)-isoboldine (7), and (-)-nuciferine, HCl (10) were found to be active with selectivity indices > 14. The nature of the 1, 2-substituents of the isoquinoline moiety appeared to be critical for antipoliovirus activity. An SAR study demonstrated the importance of a methoxyl group at C-2 on the tetrahydroisoquinoline ring for the induction of antipoliovirus activity. Molecular modeling of some compounds in this series revealed the close similarities between the three-dimensional conformational features of the inactive 1,2-substituted derivatives (+)-boldine (6) and (+)-laurolitsine (5) with derivatives containing the 1,2-(methylenedioxy) moiety, which were generally found to be inactive as exemplified by (+)-cassythicine (9).

The chemical composition for G. spathulata and G. marifolia essential oils is very similar. The oil of G. spathulata can be promising as a new antifungal agent against dermatophytes. The findings add important information to the biological activity of Glechon species essential oils, specifically its antiviral and antidermatophytic properties.

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RESUMO: Com o objetivo de avaliar a qualidade das bulas de medicamentos fitoterápicos em relação à presença das frases obrigatórias por lei, bem como de informações específicas exigidas pela legislação de medicamentos fitoterápicos, foram selecionados 65 produtos em farmácias de Porto Alegre contendo pelo menos uma das seguintes plantas medicinais: maracujá, boldo, alcachofra, guaraná e sene. Através de um formulário, analisou-se a presença das frases exigidas pela Portaria 110/97 da ANVS, que regulamenta as bulas de medicamentos, e das informações exigidas pela Resolução RDC 17/00 da ANVS, sobre registro de medicamentos fitoterápicos. A maioria dos produtos analisados não possui bula, e em nenhum deles verificouse a presença de todas a frases e demais informações exigidas pela legislação vigente. Especialmente significante foi a inexistência de dados sobre reações adversas, contra-indicações e advertências. Foi possível concluir que as bulas de medicamentos fitoterápicos analisados não seguem as normas legais, são incompletas e deficientes de informações, podendo induzir a sérios problemas de saúde.Unitermos: Medicamentos fitoterápicos; bulas; farmacovigilância.ABSTRACT: Analysis of phytomedicines package inserts commercialized in Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Sixty-five products with one of the following medicinal plants: passion flower, boldus, artichoke, guarana and senne were acquired in drugstores of Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. These products were analyzed in order to evaluate the quality of phytomedicines package inserts in relation to the obligatory informations required by the Brazilian drug legislation. Most of the products did not have package inserts, and none of them presented all informations required by the legislation. Furthermore, most of them omitted the potential occurrence of adverse effects, contra-indications and precautions. In conclusion, the analyzed package inserts did not followed the Brazilian drug regulation, were incomplete and showed deficiencies which can induce health consumer problems.

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Bufotenine, an alkaloid that can be found in plant extracts and skin secretions of amphibians, is reported to have potential antiviral activity. The present study evaluated the antiviral activity of bufotenine against different genetic lineages of rabies virus (RABV, a single-stranded, negative-sense RNA virus), canine coronavirus (CCoV, a positive-sense RNA virus) and two double-stranded DNA viruses (two strains of herpes simplex virus type 1/HSV-1 [KOS and the acyclovir-resistant HSV-1 strain 29R] and canine adenovirus 2, CAV-2). The maximal non-toxic bufotenine concentrations in Vero and BHK-21 cells were determined by MTT assays. The antiviral activity of bufotenine against each virus was assessed by examination of reductions in infectious virus titres and plaque assays. All experiments were performed with and without bufotenine, and the results were compared. Bufotenine demonstrated significant RABV inhibitory activity. No antiviral action was observed against CCoV, CAV-2 or HSV-1. These findings indicate that the antiviral activity of bufotenine is somewhat linked to the particular infectious dose used and the genetic lineage of the virus, although the mechanisms of its effects remain undetermined.