Isolation, purification, and partial characterization of prunellin, an anti-HIV component from aqueous extracts of Prunella vulgaris.

Prunellin, an anti-HIV active compound, was isolated from aqueous extracts of the Chinese medicinal herb, Prunella vulgaris, and purified to chromatographic homogeneity. Infrared and NMR spectroscopy identified prunellin as a polysaccharide. Elemental analyses, precipitation with calcium(II), barium(II), or 9-aminoacridine suggest a sulfated polysaccharide.

Dextran sulfate as an inhibitor against the human immunodeficiency virus.

Dextran sulfate (DS) is a potent inhibitor of the growth of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in the H9 cell. Its minimal inhibitory concentration is about 1 microgram/ml. Its therapeutic index is greater than or equal to 200 which is higher than that of 38 for zidovudine.

Isolation, purification and partial characterization of an active anti-HIV compound from the Chinese medicinal herb viola yedoensis.

The dimethylsulfoxide extract of the Chinese medicinal herb Viola yedoensis demonstrates high inhibitory activity toward HIV-1 in vitro. The corresponding methanol extract also showed inhibitory activity but not as high as the dimethylsulfoxide extract. Anti-HIV activity in the extracts is accompanied by cytotoxicity, and we describe here the separation of the cytotoxic material from the active fraction.

The use of N-methylprotoporphyrin dimethyl ester to inhibit ferrochelatase in Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides and its effect in promoting biosynthesis of magnesium tetrapyrroles.

N-Methylprotoporphyrin dimethyl ester inhibits ferrochelatase in isolated membranes of Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides at low concentrations (around 10 nm). Full inhibition developed after a short lag phase. The inhibition was non-competitive with porphyrin substrate.