N-acetylphenylisoserinates of lactarius sesquiterpenoid alcohols -: Cytotoxic, antiviral, antiproliferative and immunotropic activities in vitro

In the present study a new group of derivatives of both paclitaxel and Lactarius sesquiterpenes, the N-acetylphenylisoserinates of Lactarius sesquiterpenoid alcohols, was tested for antiviral, cytotoxic, antiproliferative and immunotropic activities in vitro. Among the 13 compounds tested two, isolactarorufin 8-[N-acetyl-(2'R,3'S)-3'-phenylisoserinate] and 3-O-ethylfurandiol 8-[Nacetyl-(2'R,3'S)-3-phenylisoserinate] inhibited Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) replication at low cytotoxic concentrations. Selectivity indices were: > 12.2 and > 106.4, respectively. Both compounds decreased also the number of cell divisions. Mitotic indices of the cells submitted to these compounds were: 96/2000 and 48/1000, respectively, in comparison with control (169/2000). It seems that the antimitotic action of the compounds may be associated with their antiviral activity. Moreover, isolactarorufin 8-[N-acetyl-(2'R,3'S)-3-phenylisoserinate] inhibited PHA-induced T lymphocyte proliferation.