lignans and alpha-peltatin

In an effort to develop a sustainable source of podophyllotoxin for the production of anticancer drugs such as etoposide, teniposide and etopophos, Podophyllum peltatum accessions with podophyllotoxin-rich leaf biomass were identified and transplanted to different growing conditions by vegetative cuttings. Results indicate that the lignan profile in leaves does not change over time or due to environment conditions. Podophyllotoxin and alpha-peltatin content in the blades seems to be stable with an inverse relationship of concentration between these compounds. A podophyllotoxin-rich leaf accession showed low biosynthetic capability to synthesize alpha- and beta-peltatin and the converse was also true, indicating that selection and cultivation of high-yielding podophyllotoxin leaf biomass may reduce production costs.

Topics: Biomass; Lignans; Plant Leaves; Plant Stems; Podophyllotoxin; Podophyllum

A total of 18 purified lignans was evaluated for antiviral activity against murine cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Sindbis virus, by means of different treatment regimens. Podophyllotoxin and alpha-peltatin were the most potent compounds, and they apparently inhibited murine CMV at an essential early step in the replication cycle after the adsorption of virus to the cells. On the other hand, justicidin B and the diphyllin derivatives were much more effective against Sindbis virus, and 12 of the lignans had no demonstrable effect at all, despite their known activities in other bioassays.

Topics: Antiviral Agents; Cytomegalovirus; Lignans; Lignin; Molecular Structure; Plants; Podophyllotoxin; Sindbis Virus