Synthesis and antiviral activity of β-carboline derivatives bearing a substituted carbohydrazide at C-3 against poliovirus and herpes simplex virus (HSV-1)

Several novel 1,3-disubstituted β-carboline derivatives bearing a substituted carbohydrazide group at C-3 were synthesized and evaluated for their antiviral activity against vaccinal poliovirus (VP) and herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). The cytotoxicity and selectivity index of the active compounds were also evaluated. Among the synthesized derivatives, compounds 10 and 11 displayed potent activity against both vaccinal poliovirus and HSV-1 virus. Compound 10 presented the highest selectivity index (SI = 2446.8) against HSV-1 virus and low cytotoxicity (CC50 = 1150.0 ± 67.3 μM). The virus yield inhibition assay showed that compound 10 was able to inhibit HSV-1 plaque formation before and during the virus adsorption. The characteristic small plaque pattern observed in compound-treated cells suggested that compound 10 inhibited viral dissemination to neighboring cells. A computational study for prediction of ADME properties of the novel synthesized β-carbolines derivatives was performed by determination of lipophilicity, topological polar surface area (TPSA), absorption (% ABS) and simple molecular descriptors, using Lipinski′s rule.

Graphical abstractNovel b-carboline derivatives containing a substituted carbohydrazide group at C-3 were prepared and identified as antiviral agents against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and vaccinal poliovirus (VP), at non-cytotoxic concentrations. Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide