Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 31, 2025
Porcine Corneal Tissue Explant to Study the Efficacy of Herpes Simplex Virus-1 Antivirals
Published on: September 20, 2021
Synthetic dibenzylideneketones as promising anti-herpes simplex virus type 1 agents
Thalita Zago Oliveira1, Dyenefer Pereira Fonseca1, André Henrique Dos Santos1
1Department of Basic Health Sciences, Laboratory of Technological Innovation in the Development of Drugs and Cosmetics, State University of Maringá, Avenida Colombo, 5790, Maringá, Paraná, 87020-900, Brazil.
Abstract:
New antiviral agents for the treatment of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection, which causes a highly prevalent and incurable disease, are needed. Here, we report for the first time the in vitro anti-HSV-1 activity of two dibenzylideneketone compounds: DBK1 and DBK2. DBK1 demonstrated virucidal activity, and high-resolution scanning electron microscopy showed that it caused morphological changes in the HSV-1 envelope. DBK2 was able to reduce HSV-1 plaque size in vitro. The DBKs are promising anti-HSV-1 candidates, as they exhibit low toxicity and exert an antiviral effect by acting at the early stages of HSV-1-host cell interaction.
