| Popis: |
A new class of antiviral compounds, the aryl β-diketones, was recently discovered. A few members of this group of compounds have been tested for antiviral activity with promising results. One of these compounds, arildone, was extensively studied and shown to be active against a wide variety of DNA and RNA viruses in vitro. In addition, arildone was shown to be effective against herpesvirus infections in vivo. Arildone and its metabolites were well tolerated in animal toxicity studies and they were not mutagenic. This drug shows promise as an effective antiviral agent for use in the treatment of cutaneous herpetic infections in humans. Currently, arildone is undergoing clinical trials for herpesvirus infections in the United States, Asia, and Europe. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge concerning the antiviral activity and possible mode of action of arildone. |
