Screening of the Pan-African natural product library identifies ixoratannin A-2 and boldine as novel HIV-1 inhibitors

PLoS One. 2015 Apr 1;10(4):e0121099. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0121099. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

The continued burden of HIV in resource-limited regions such as parts of sub-Saharan Africa, combined with adverse effects and potential risks of resistance to existing antiretroviral therapies, emphasize the need to identify new HIV inhibitors. Here we performed a virtual screen of molecules from the pan-African Natural Product Library, the largest collection of medicinal plant-derived pure compounds on the African continent. We identified eight molecules with structural similarity to reported interactors of Vpu, an HIV-1 accessory protein with reported ion channel activity. Using in vitro HIV-1 replication assays with a CD4+ T cell line and peripheral blood mononuclear cells, we confirmed antiviral activity and minimal cytotoxicity for two compounds, ixoratannin A-2 and boldine. Notably, ixoratannin A-2 retained inhibitory activity against recombinant HIV-1 strains encoding patient-derived mutations that confer resistance to protease, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase, or integrase inhibitors. Moreover, ixoratannin A-2 was less effective at inhibiting replication of HIV-1 lacking Vpu, supporting this protein as a possible direct or indirect target. In contrast, boldine was less effective against a protease inhibitor-resistant HIV-1 strain. Both ixoratannin A-2 and boldine also inhibited in vitro replication of hepatitis C virus (HCV). However, BIT-225, a previously-reported Vpu inhibitor, demonstrated antiviral activity but also cytotoxicity in HIV-1 and HCV replication assays. Our work identifies pure compounds derived from African plants with potential novel activities against viruses that disproportionately afflict resource-limited regions of the world.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aporphines / chemistry
  • Aporphines / pharmacology*
  • Biological Products / chemistry*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / virology
  • Cell Line
  • Drug Resistance, Viral
  • Guanidines / pharmacology
  • HIV-1 / drug effects*
  • HIV-1 / physiology
  • Hepacivirus / drug effects
  • Hepacivirus / physiology
  • Human Immunodeficiency Virus Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Human Immunodeficiency Virus Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / cytology
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / virology
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Proanthocyanidins / chemistry
  • Proanthocyanidins / pharmacology*
  • Pyrazoles / pharmacology
  • Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins / metabolism
  • Virus Replication / drug effects

Substances

  • Aporphines
  • Biological Products
  • Guanidines
  • Human Immunodeficiency Virus Proteins
  • N-(5-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-napthalene-2-carbonyl)guanidine
  • Proanthocyanidins
  • Pyrazoles
  • Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins
  • ixoratannin A-2
  • vpu protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1
  • boldine