Niaziminin, a thiocarbamate from the leaves of Moringa oleifera, holds a strict structural requirement for inhibition of tumor-promoter-induced Epstein-Barr virus activation

Planta Med. 1998 May;64(4):319-23. doi: 10.1055/s-2006-957442.

Abstract

Three known thiocarbamate (TC)- and isothiocyanate (ITC)-related compounds have been isolated from the leaves of Moringa oleifera, a traditional herb in southeast Asia, as inhibitors of tumor promoter teleocidin B-4-induced Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) activation in Raji cells. Interestingly, only niaziminin among 10 TCs including 8 synthetic ones showed considerable inhibition against EBV activation. The structure-activity relationships indicated that the presence of an acetoxy group at the 4'-position of niaziminin is important and indispensable for inhibition. On the other hand, among the ITC-related compounds, naturally occurring 4-[(4'-O-acetyl-alpha-L-rhamnosyloxy)benzyl]ITC and commercially available allyl- and benzyl-ITC significantly inhibited activation, suggesting that the isothiocyano group is a critical structural factor for activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / drug effects*
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / physiology
  • Humans
  • Plant Leaves / chemistry*
  • Plants, Medicinal / chemistry*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Thiocarbamates / chemistry
  • Thiocarbamates / isolation & purification
  • Thiocarbamates / pharmacology*
  • Virus Activation / drug effects*

Substances

  • Thiocarbamates
  • niaziminin