MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY OF ANTI- VIRAL

AGENTS

SOHAILAMJAD
PhD Scholar
ANTI VIRAL AGENTS:-

Anti viral drugs are a class of medication used specifically for

treating viral infections. Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites,
smallest of all self replicating organisms, able to pass through filter
that retain the smallest bacteria. Virus conduct no metabolic process
on their own. They invade the host cell which may be bacteria,animal
or plant cell.
STRUCTURE OF VIRUS:-
Virus doesn’t possess cell
wall.It consists of one or more of
linear or helical strands pf either
DNA or RNA,enclosed in the
shell of protein known as
capsid.The capsid is composed of
several sub units known as
capsomers.In certain
cases,capsid may be surrounded
by an outer protein or
lipoprotein envelop.
LIFE CYCLE OF VIRUS:-
Viral life cycle varies with species but they all share a general pattern.
1.Adsorption:-Attachment of virus to the host cell.
2.Penetration:-Penetration of virus into the host cell.
3.Uncoating:-The genetic material of viral genome(DNA/RNA)passes into the
host cell, leaving the capsid covering outside the cell.
4. Transcription:-Production of viral m-RNA from viral genome.
5.Translation:-Viral genome enters the cytoplasm or nucleoplasm and
utilises the host nucleic acid for the synthesis of new viral protein and also
for the production of more viral genome.The viral protein modifies the host
cell and allows the viral genome to replicate by using host and viral
enzyme.In this stage,the cell is irreversibly modified and eventually killed.
6.Assembly:-New viral coat protein assembles into capsid and viral
genomes.
7.Release:-Release of the mature virus from the cells by budding
process or by rupture of the cell and the process is repeated in fresh
host cell.Since the host cell machinery is totally utilised for the
production of new virions,the normal cell function ceases at the time
of production.
CLASSIFICATION
CLASSIFICATION OF ANTI VIRAL AGENTS:-
The anti viral agents may be divided into the following categories
based on their chemical structure:-
1. Admantane derivatives:-
Amantadine,Rimantadine,Somantadine,Tromantadine
2. Purine nucleotides:-
Acyclovir,Ganciclovir,Vidarabine,Valaciclovir,Penciclovir
3. Pyrimidine
nucleotides:-
Trifluridine,Idoxuridine
4. Phosphorus
derivatives:- Foscarnet
1.ADMANTANE DERIVATIVES:-
a)Amantadine b)Rimantadine c)Somantadine d)Tromantadine
2.PURINE NUCLEOTIDES:-

a)Acyclovir b)Ganciclovir
c)Vidarabine d)Valaciclovir
e)Penciclovir
3.PYRIMIDINE NUCLEOTIDES:-

a)Trifluridine b)Idoxuridine
4.PHOSPHORUS DERIVATIVES:-

Foscarnet
SYNTHESIS
1.SYNTHESIS OF AMANTADINE:-
PROPERTIES & USES:-

Amantadine is a white,odourless,crystalline powder with a bitter

taste,freely soluble in water.It is effective in the prophylaxis and therapy
of infection caused by influenza-A and is active against a number of DNA
and RNA virus in vitro.It may block either the assembly of influenza-A
virus or the release of viral nucleic acid in the host cell.
The drug is well absorbed from the GIT is not metabolised and
is excreted by the kidney.
Dose related adverse effects include
confusion,hallucinations,seizures & coma.
2.SYNTHESIS OF RIMANTADINE:-
3.SYNTHESIS OF TROMANTADINE:-
4.SYNTHESIS OF ACYCLOVIR:-

Acyclovir
MECHANISM OF ACTION:-

Acyclovir gets activated after three phosphorylation steps by

viral specific enzymes termed thymidine kinases.These active
metabolites accumulate in the infected cells and exerts their action by
two mechanisms.
1.Competitive inhibition of herpes virus DNA polymerases.
2.Incorporation of Acyclovir into viral DNA.
SAR OF ACYCLOVIR:-
HERPES VIRUS TYPES
USES OF ACYCLOVIR:-
It is a drug of choice in both prophylaxis and treatment of
herpes simplex virus,particularly type-1 including chronic and recurrent
mucocutaneous herpes in the immunologically impaired host,primary
and secondary genital herpes and herpes simplex encephalitis.Cells
infected with herpex simplex phosphorylate the drug to yield a
cycloguanosine triphosphate,which preferentially inhibits viral DNA
polymerase.
5.SYNTHESIS OF TRIFLURIDINE:-

Trifluridine
6.SYNTHESIS OF IDOXURIDINE:-

Idoxuridine
MECHANISM OF ACTION:-

1. Idoxuridine acts as a anti viral agent against DNA virus.

2. It is phosphorylated by thymidine kinase to active triphosphate.
3.This phosphorylated drug inhibits HSV DNA polymerase enzyme
which is necessary for the synthesis of viral DNA.
4.The ability of idoxuridylic acid substitute for deoxythymidic acid in the
synthesis of viral DNA may be due to the similar vander waal’s radii of
iodine and the thymidine methyl group.
USES OF IDOXURIDINE:-

Idoxuridine is mainly used for the topical treatment of HSV

infection of eyelid,conjuctiva & cornea and approved as opthalmic
ointment or solution.Epithelial infections respond much better than
stromal infections.
SUMMARY MOA OF ANTI VIRAL AGENTS:-