Antiviral & Antioxidant - A New Hybrid Compound Synthesized at UrFU

11:35, October 5, 2020

Scientists combine both characteristics into one molecule - there are no direct analogues of these compounds in the world today

Researchers of the Department of Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, Ural Federal University have synthesized hybrid compounds that have both antiviral and antioxidant properties. Preparations based on new substances can significantly facilitate the treatment of viral diseases and prevent the occurrence of their complications. The research results are published in the journal 'Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry'.

With viral diseases in the body, oxidative stress can occur, associated with the excessive formation of reactive oxygen species at the cellular level. This provokes the formation of foci of inflammation and various pulmonary pathologies that complicate the course of the disease and even flow into chronic forms. Ural Federal University scientists managed to combine substances with antiviral and antioxidant activity in one molecule. There are no direct analogues of these compounds in the world today.

“It turned out that during the synthesis of these molecules, the antioxidant properties by the mechanism of electron transfer decrease relative to the initial substance, but by the mechanism of proton transfer, their activity significantly increases. The use of a drug with such a double action can significantly increase the effectiveness of the treatment of viral diseases, ”says Elena Gerasimova, associate professor of the Department of Analytical Chemistry, UrFU.

The staff of the department synthesized a whole line of compounds, which are derivatives of the azoloazine series with antiviral properties, modified with various polyphenol fragments with antioxidant properties.

The study was based on the data of complex antioxidant screening, which makes it possible to determine the exact role of a particular substance in oxygen metabolism in the body. According to scientists, studies of the antiviral activity of new compounds became possible thanks to cooperation with specialists from the Louis Pasteur St. Petersburg Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology.

In the future, the research team intends to continue laboratory studies of a new family of compounds to detect "leaders" in antiviral activity, as well as to investigate the regularity of changes in antioxidant properties when creating hybrid molecules.