Bioactive constituents from the leaves of Clinacanthus nutans Lindau

Three chlorophyll derivatives (phaeophytins) were isolated from the chloroform extract of Clinacanthus nutans Lindau leaves by means of chromatographic techniques and bioactivity-guided fractionation to give three pure compounds. Structure elucidation of the isolated compounds was carried out on the basis of spectral analyses. Three of these were known compounds with structures related to chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b namely 132-hydroxy-(132-R)-phaeophytin b, 132-hydroxy-(132-S)-phaeophytin a and 132-hydroxy-(132-R)-phaeophytin a. These compounds, which have not previously been reported in this plant, were shown to have anti-herpes simplex activity. They exhibited anti-HSV-1F activity at subtoxic concentrations. Their inhibitory activity affected the virus before viral entry to the host cells. This effect might be virucidal or interference with viral adsorption or penetration.

Three chlorophyll derivatives (phaeophytins) were isolated from the chloroform extract of Clinacanthus nutans Lindau leaves by means of chromatographic techniques and bioactivity-guided fractionation to give three pure compounds. They exhibited anti-HSV-1F activity at subtoxic concentrations. Their inhibitory activity affected the virus before viral entry to the host cells. This effect might be virucidal and interfering viral adsorption or penetration.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide