Formula C46H48N2O8 | ||
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Michellamine is an atropisomeric alkaloid which has been found to be a strong anti-HIV viral replication inhibitor. It was discovered in the leaves of the Ancistrocladus korupensis which is a member of the Triphyophyllum peltatum found in Cameroon. There are 3 michellamines represented as A, B, and C, however, Michellamine B is the most active against the NID-DZ strain of HIV-2.
Contents
Occurrence
Michellamine A and B alkaloids occur naturally in Ancistrocladus korupensis leaves, a Triphyophyllum peltatum found in Cameroon. Bioactive chemical substances including alkaloids, tannins, and saponin are found in several plants in their roots, leaves, stems, flowers, or bark.
Synthesis
There are 2 methods explored to synthesize Michellamines A and B. The first one, originally synthesized in 1994, is a retrosynthesis that leads to a biomimetic pathway that uses the construction of naphthalene/isoquinoline bonds before the naphthalene/naphthalene axis. The second method, originally synthesized only a few montes after the first method, is a complementary pathway that would use the naphthalene/naphthalene axis after it is created and add the 2 isoquinoline moieties.
Medical use
The main use of Michellamines are in anti-HIV medications. They inhibit viral replication of the Protein kinase C and virus-induced cellular fusion. They have a broad range of effectiveness across most HIV strains, particularly the HIV-2 strain, which is found primarily in and around Cameroon.