Testing of Silanes for Antiviral Activity

Forty-three organosilicon class of compounds were tested for antiviral activity using a wide scope screening program in vitro (in cell cultures) including eight model strains of viruses belonging to seven taxonomic groups including causative agents of infections in which applications of chemotherapy is indicated. The results obtained demonstrated a marked activity of di(hexadecanoyloxy)diphenylsilan (compound 27) only against human cytomegalovirus (SI = 30.9). A marked activity toward this virus at a low m.o.i. was recorded also by 1-o-dimethyl(octadecyl)silyl-(2,3,4,6-o-tetraacetyl--D-glucopyranosid) (compound 20). Small to borderline effect against this virus was found by silanes 2, 7, 15, 19 and 34, at silanes 2, 3 and 25 toward influenza virus A(H3N2) and at silane 9 versus vaccinia virus. As concerns the cytotoxicity it was established a strong variation towards different cell cultures used, the higher susceptibility of the HEp-2 cells been recorded.