Investigation of the metabolic origin of esculetin derivatives active against the SARS virus

Author(s)

Marilia Cardoso Milanetto

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Carlos.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC/BT)
• Defense date: 2008-12-10

Examining board members

Roberto Gomes de Souza Berlinck; Sandra Regina Pombeiro Sponchiado; Janete Harumi Yariwake

• Advisor: Roberto Gomes de Souza Berlinck

Abstract

Recently two compounds derived from esculetin have been isolated from the marine sponge Axinella cf. corrugata: the methyl ester of esculetin-4-carboxylic acid and the ethyl ester of esculetin-4-carboxylic acid. The latter displayed antiviral activity against the SARS virus. This project aimed the isolation and the growth of fungal strains associated to the sponge Axinella cf. corrugata, and the subsequent analysis of the fungal extracts by HPLC-PDA-MS, aiming the possible detection of the esculetin compounds (or derivatives) in those extracts. Preliminary analysis yielded 11 samples potentially related to these compounds. Among these extracts, one presented UV and MS spectra very similar to the spectra obtained for the sodium adduct of the methyl ester of esculetin-4-carboxylic acid. However, a detailed spectroscopic analysis of a pure compound isolated by RMN - 1H, RMN - 13C, HSQC, HMBC e COSY allowed the identification of the compound, which is 1,3,6-trihydroxy-8-methyl-9H-xanthen-9-one. Simultaneously to the chemical analysis of the fungal crude extracts, the biological activities of the obtained extracts were evaluated against microrganisms and human tumoral cell lines. More than 20% of the extracts displayed some biological activity. (AU)