Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters 2004-03-08

Anti-AIDS agents. Part 57: Actein, an anti-HIV principle from the rhizome of Cimicifuga racemosa (black cohosh), and the anti-HIV activity of related saponins.

Nobuko Sakurai, Jiu-Hong Wu, Yutaka Sashida, Yoshihiro Mimaki, Tamotsu Nikaido, Kazuo Koike, Hideji Itokawa, Kuo-Hsiung Lee

Index: Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 14(5) , 1329-32, (2004)

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Abstract

Actein (1), a tetracyclic triterpenoid from the rhizome of Cimicifuga racemosa (black cohosh), and 82 related triterpenoid and steroidal saponins isolated from higher plants were evaluated for anti-HIV activity as a continuing study to discover potential anti-AIDS agents from natural products. Actein showed potent activity and another twelve saponins showed moderate activity. The active compounds included two steroidal, seven tetracyclic triterpenoid, and four pentacyclic triterpenoid compounds.