In this work, a series of oxime ether phenylpropanoid derivatives were synthesized. Their anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) activity in HepG 2.2.15 cells was determined, and anti-cancer potential against three human cancer cell lines was evaluated. All the synthesized derivatives showed great efficiency against HBV. Compound 4d demonstrated the most effective anti-HBV activity, performing strong potent inhibitory not only on the secretion of HBsAg (IC50 = 50.45 μM, SI = 9.18) and HBeAg (IC50 = 50.11 μM, SI = 9.24), but also on the HBV DNA replication (IC50 = 51.80 μM, SI = 8.94). Besides, the synthetic compounds also displayed obvious anti-cancer activity. Moreover, the docking study of all synthesized compounds inside the related protein active site was conducted to explore the molecular interactions and a molecular target for activity using a MOE-docking technique. This study identified a new class of potent anti-HBV and anti-cancer agents.

•A series of phenylpropanoid derivatives were designed and synthesized based on our previous studies.•The human HBV-transfected liver cell line HepG2.2.15 was used in vitro assay.•The structure–activity relationships of the derivatives had been discussed in the paper.•Docking study was carried out to explore molecular target for activity using MOE.•Compound 4c-1exhibited the most potent anti-HBV activities.A series of phenylpropanoid derivatives were synthesized, and their anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) activity was evaluated in HepG 2.2.15 cells. Most of the synthesized derivatives showed effective anti-HBV activity. Of these compounds, compound 4c-1 showed the most potent anti-HBV activity, demonstrating potent inhibitory effect not only on the secretion of HBsAg (IC50 = 14.18 μM, SI = 17.85) and HBeAg (IC50 = 6.20 μM, SI = 40.82) secretion but also HBV DNA replication (IC50 = 23.43 μM, SI = 10.80). The structure–activity relationships (SARs) of phenylpropanoid derivatives had been discussed, which were useful for phenylpropanoid derivatives to be explored and developed as novel anti-HBV agents. Moreover, the docking study of all synthesized compounds inside the HLA-A protein (PDB ID: 3OX8) active site were carried out to explore the molecular interactions and a molecular target for activity of phenylpropanoid derivatives with the protein using a moe-docking technique. This study identified a new class of potent anti-HBV agents.

Fructus Mori Albae polysaccharide (FMAP) was first isolated from Fructus Mori Albae, and purified by Sephadex G-200 column chromatography. Its average molecular weight (Mw = 1.30 × 105) was determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The polysaccharide was found to be composed of d-galactose, d-mannose and d-glucose by TLC and GC–MS. According to IR, methylation and GC–MS, the main chain of the polysaccharide consists of (1 → 3)-linked mannan with branches of galactosyl and glucosyl residues at O-6 on mannosyl residues of the backbone.

Ethnopharmacological relevanceNirtetralin B, a new lignan first reported by our team, is isolated from Phyllanthus niruri L. This plant has long been used in folk medicine for liver protection and antihepatitis B in many Asian countries. This study was designed to evaluate the anti-hepatitis B virus activity of nirtetralin B using HepG2.2.15 cells and duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) infected ducks as in vitro and in vivo models.Materials and methodsNirtetralin B was isolated from Phyllanthus niruri L. (Euphorbiaceae) by extraction and chromatographic procedures and the anti-hepatitis B virus activity was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. The human HBV-transfected liver cell line HepG2.2.15 was used in vitro assay. And the in vivo anti-hepatitis B virus activity was evaluated on the expression of HBV replication, HBsAg, HBeAg, ALT and AST on day 0, 7, 14, 17 after nirtetralin B was dosed intragastricly (i.g.) once a day for 14 days at the dosages of 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg/day in the duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) infected ducks.ResultsIn the human HBV-transfected liver cell line HepG2.2.15, nirtetralin B effectively suppressed the secretion of the HBV antigens in a dose-dependent manner with IC50 values for HBsAg of 17.4 μM, IC50 values for HBeAg of 63.9 μM. In DHBV-infected ducklings, nirtetralin B significantly reduced the serum DHBV DNA, HBsAg, HBeAg, ALT and AST. And analysis of the liver pathological changes confirmed the hepatoprotective effect of nirtetralin B.ConclusionThe experimental data demonstrated that nirtetralin B exhibits anti-hepatitis B virus activity both in vitro and in vivo.Download high-res image (165KB)Download full-size image

Ethnopharmacological relevanceNiranthin is a lignan isolated from Phyllanthus niruri L. This plant has long been used in folk medicine for liver protection and antihepatitis B in many Asian countries. This study was designed to evaluate the anti-hepatitis B virus activity of niranthin using HepG2.2.15 cells and duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) infected ducks as in vitro and in vivo models.Materials and methodsNiranthin was isolated from Phyllanthus niruri L. (Euphorbiaceae) by extraction and chromatographic procedures and the anti-hepatitis B virus activity was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. The human HBV-transfected liver cell line HepG2.2.15 was used in vitro assay. And the in vivo anti-hepatitis B virus activity was evaluated on the expression of HBV replication, HBsAg, HBeAg, ALT and AST on day 0, 7, 14, 17 after niranthin was dosed intragastricly (i.g.) once a day for 14 days at the dosages of 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg/day in the duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) infected ducks.ResultsIn the human HBV-transfected liver cell line HepG2.2.15, the secretion of HBsAg and HBeAg were significantly decreased after treatment with niranthin for 144 h, with IC50 values for HBsAg of 15.6 µM, IC50 values for HBeAg of 25.1 µM. In DHBV-infected ducklings, niranthin significantly reduced the serum DHBV DNA, HBsAg, HBeAg, ALT and AST. Furthermore, analysis of the liver pathological changes confirmed the hepatoprotective effect of niranthin.ConclusionThe experimental data demonstrated that niranthin exhibits anti-hepatitis B virus activity both in vitro and in vivo.Download high-res image (280KB)Download full-size image