Trans-hydroxyviolacein, process for preparing it pure and its use for the prophylaxis and therapy of viral diseases

摘要

The invention describes the use of hydroxyviolacein as antiviral agent. The chemical name of hydroxyviolacein is 3-[1,2-dihydro-5-(5-hydroxy-1H-indol-3-yl)-2-oxo-3H-pyrol-3-ylidene]-1 ,3-dihydro-2H-indolone and it is a minor component of up to about 5% in the pigment from Chromobacterium violaceum, besides the major component violacein. The 50% inhibitory concentration in vitro for herpes virus type 1 is 0.198 mu g/ml. The LD50 of hydroviolacein for mice was found to be 25 mg/kg. Also described are processes for the effective removal of the hydroxyviolacein from the crude extract from Chromobacterium violaceum.