29 research outputs found

    Silibinin and related compounds are direct inhibitors of hepatitis C virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase.

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    International audienceBACKGROUND & AIMS: Silymarin is a mixture of flavonolignans extracted from the milk thistle. Silymarin contains several molecules, including silibinin A, silibinin B, isosilibinin A, isosilibinin B, silicristin, and silidianin. Intravenous infusion of silibinin induces dose-dependent reduction of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA levels. The aim of this study was to test the principal isomers contained in silymarin preparations for their ability to inhibit HCV enzymatic functions and replication in different models. METHODS: The inhibitory activity of silymarin components was tested in HCV RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and NS3/4A protease enzyme assays. Their ability to inhibit replication of an HCV genotype 1b replicon model and the JFH1 infectious HCV model in cell culture was also studied. RESULTS: Silibinin A, silibinin B, their water-soluble dihydrogen succinate forms and Legalon SIL, a commercially available intravenous preparation of silibinin, inhibited HCV RNA-dependent RNA polymerase function, with inhibitory concentrations 50% of the order of 75-100 microM. Silibinin A and silibinin B also inhibited HCV genotype 1b replicon replication and HCV genotype 2a strain JFH1 replication in cell culture. None of these compounds inhibited HCV protease function. CONCLUSIONS: Silibinin A and silibinin B, as well as Legalon SIL, inhibit HCV replicon and JFH1 replication in cell culture. This effect is at least partly explained by the ability of these compounds to inhibit HCV RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity. Our results provide a basis for the optimization and subsequent development of members of the Flavonoid family as specific HCV antivirals

    B-ring modified aurones as promising allosteric inhibitors of hepatitis C virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase

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    International audienceFollowing our recent report showing the potential of naturally occurring aurones (2benzylidenebenzofuran-3(2H)-ones) as anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) agents, efforts were continued in order to refine the structural requirements for the inhibitory effect on HCV RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). In this study, we targeted the Bring moiety of aurones with the aim to improve structural features associated with higher inhibition of the targeted polymerase. In vitro evaluation of the RdRp inhibitory activity of the 37 newly synthesized compounds pointed out that the replacement of the Bring with a N-substituted indole moiety induced the highest inhibitory effect. Of these, compounds 31, 40 and 41 were found to be the most active (IC50 = 2.3-2.4 µM). Docking experiments performed with the most active compounds revealed that the allosteric thumb pocket I of RdRp is the binding pocket for aurone analogues

    Discovery of Naturally Occurring Aurones That Are Potent Allosteric Inhibitors of Hepatitis C Virus RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase.

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    International audienceWe have identified naturally occurring 2-benzylidenebenzofuran-3-ones (aurones) as new templates for non-nucleoside hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) inhibitors. The aurone target site, identified by site-directed mutagenesis, is located in thumb pocket I of HCV RdRp. The RdRp inhibitory activity of 42 aurones was rationally explored in an enzyme assay. Molecular docking studies were used to determine how aurones bind to HCV RdRp and to predict their range of inhibitory activity. Seven aurone derivatives were found to have potent inhibitory effects on HCV RdRp, with IC(50) below 5 ÎĽM and excellent selectivity index (inhibition activity versus cellular cytotoxicity). The most active aurone analogue was (Z)-2-((1-butyl-1H-indol-3-yl)methylene)-4,6-dihydroxybenzofuran-3(2H)-one (compound 51), with an IC(50) of 2.2 ÎĽM. Their potent RdRp inhibitory activity and their low toxicity make these molecules attractive candidates as direct-acting anti-HCV agents

    New Pseudodimeric Aurones as Palm Pocket Inhibitors of Hepatitis C Virus RNA-dependent RNA Polymerase

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    International audienceThe NS5B RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) is a key enzyme for Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) replication. In addition to the catalytic site, this enzyme is characterized by the presence of at least four allosteric pockets making it an interesting target for development of inhibitors as potential anti-HCV drugs. Based on a previous study showing the potential of the naturally occurring aurones as inhibitors of NS5B, we pursued our efforts to focus on pseudodimeric aurones that have never been investigated so far. Hence, 14 original compounds characterized by the presence of a spacer between the benzofuranone moieties were synthesized and investigated as HCV RdRp inhibitors by means of an in vitro assay. The most active inhibitor, pseudodimeric aurone 4, induced high inhibition activity (IC50 = 1.3 µM). Mutagenic and molecular modelling studies reveal that the binding site for the most active derivatives probably is the palm pocket I instead of the thumb pocket I as for the monomeric derivatives
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