Anti-herpetic and anti-dengue activity of abietane ferruginol analogues synthesized from (+)-dehydroabietylamine.

The abietane-type diterpenoid (+)-ferruginol (1), a bioactive compound isolated from several plants, has attracted much attention as consequence of its pharmacological properties, which includes antibacterial, antifungal, antimicrobial, cardioprotective, anti-oxidative, anti-plasmodial, leishmanicidal, anti-ulcerogenic, anti-inflammatory and antitumor actions. In this study, we report on the antiviral evaluation of ferruginol (1) and several analogues synthesized from commercial (+)-dehydroabietylamine. Thus, the activity against Human Herpesvirus type 1, Human Herpesvirus type 2 and Dengue Virus type 2, was studied.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of combretastatin A-4 and three combretastatin-based hybrids.

The syntheses of combretastatin A-4 from gallic acid and of three combretastatin-based hybrids are described. Starting from commercial gallic acid, the phosphonium salt (3,4,5-trimethoxybenzylphosphonium bromide) is synthesized and coupled, through a Wittig reaction, with several aldehydes, including methoxymethyl-protected isovanillin, the aldehyde y-bicyclohomofarnesal having a labdane skeleton, 3-(3-pyridyl) propanal, and furfural. The biological properties of the cis-coupled compounds as cytotoxic, antiviral and antifungal agents are also reported.