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Identification of light-independent inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus-1 infection through bioguided fractionation of Hypericum perforatum
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Identification of light-independent inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus-1 infection through bioguided fractionation of Hypericum perforatum

Wendy Maury, Jason P Price, Melinda A Brindley, ChoonSeok Oh, Jeffrey D Neighbors, David F Wiemer, Nickolas Wills, Susan Carpenter, Cathy Hauck, Patricia Murphy, …
Virology journal, Vol.6(1), pp.101-101
07/13/2009
DOI: 10.1186/1743-422X-6-101
PMCID: PMC2716326
PMID: 19594941
url
https://doi.org/10.1186/1743-422X-6-101View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Light-dependent activities against enveloped viruses in St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) extracts have been extensively studied. In contrast, light-independent antiviral activity from this species has not been investigated. Here, we identify the light-independent inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) by highly purified fractions of chloroform extracts of H. perforatum. Both cytotoxicity and antiviral activity were evident in initial chloroform extracts, but bioassay-guided fractionation produced fractions that inhibited HIV-1 with little to no cytotoxicity. Separation of these two biological activities has not been reported for constituents responsible for the light-dependent antiviral activities. Antiviral activity was associated with more polar subfractions. GC/MS analysis of the two most active subfractions identified 3-hydroxy lauric acid as predominant in one fraction and 3-hydroxy myristic acid as predominant in the other. Synthetic 3-hydroxy lauric acid inhibited HIV infectivity without cytotoxicity, suggesting that this modified fatty acid is likely responsible for observed antiviral activity present in that fraction. As production of 3-hydroxy fatty acids by plants remains controversial, H. perforatum seedlings were grown sterilely and evaluated for presence of 3-hydroxy fatty acids by GC/MS. Small quantities of some 3-hydroxy fatty acids were detected in sterile plants, whereas different 3-hydroxy fatty acids were detected in our chloroform extracts or field-grown material. Through bioguided fractionation, we have identified that 3-hydroxy lauric acid found in field grown Hypericum perforatum has anti-HIV activity. This novel anti-HIV activity can be potentially developed into inexpensive therapies, expanding the current arsenal of anti-retroviral agents.
 Anti-HIV Agents - pharmacology Plant Extracts - chemistry Lauric Acids - isolation & purification Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Anti-HIV Agents - toxicity HIV-1 - drug effects Humans Lauric Acids - toxicity Lauric Acids - pharmacology Myristic Acids - pharmacology Myristic Acids - isolation & purification Myristic Acids - toxicity Anti-HIV Agents - isolation & purification HeLa Cells Hypericum - chemistry

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