Journal of Natural Products 2004-03-01

Iridoids as allelochemicals and DNA polymerase inhibitors.

Carlos R Pungitore, Maximiliano Juri Ayub, Matías García, Eduardo J Borkowski, Marta E Sosa, Gladys Ciuffo, Oscar S Giordano, Carlos E Tonn

Index: J. Nat. Prod. 67(3) , 357-61, (2004)

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Abstract

Growth inhibitory activities and nutritional indices of catalpol (1), 8-O-acetylharpagide (2), and harpagide (3) were determinated in larvae and adults of Tribolium castaneum, respectively. Compound 1 produced a series of allelochemical effects probably related with the DNA synthesis. This iridoid possessed the highest inhibitory activity against DNA polymerase. Molecular orbital calculations suggest that a pi-pi charge transfer recognition model could explain the action of iridioids toward nucleic acid synthesis.