Anti-Human Rhinoviral Activity of Polybromocatechol Compounds Isolated from the Rhodophyta, Neorhodomela aculeata

• Main Authors: Hui-Seong Kim, Dur-Han Kwon, Hwa Jung Choi, Jungyeob Ham, Heejin Kim, Pilju Choi, Young-Joo Kim, Seokjoon Lee, Gab Man Park, Taejung Kim, Woon-Seob Shin, Jae-Hyoung Song, Soon-Hye Park
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2012-10-01
• Series: Marine Drugs
• Subjects: Neorhodomela aculeate; red alga; polybromocatechol compounds; antiviral activity; human rhinovirus
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/10/10/2222

An extract of the red alga, Neorhodomela aculeata, exhibited antiviral activity against human rhinoviruses. Bioassay-guided purification was performed to yield six compounds, which were subsequently identified as lanosol (1) and five polybromocatechols (2–6) by spectroscopic methods, including 1D and 2D NMR and mass spectrometric analyses. Structurally, all of these compounds, except compound 5, contain one or two 2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxyphenyl moieties. In a biological activity assay, compound 1 was found to possess antiviral activity with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 2.50 μg/mL against HRV2. Compound 3 showed anti-HRV2 activity, with an IC50 of 7.11 μg/mL, and anti-HRV3 activity, with an IC50 of 4.69 μg/mL, without demonstrable cytotoxicity at a concentration of 20 μg/mL. Collectively, the results suggest that compounds 1 and 3 are candidates for novel therapeutics against two different groups of human rhinovirus.