Synthesis, antibacterial and antiviral properties of curcumin bioconjugates bearing dipeptide, fatty acids and folic acid

Abstract

Curcumin bioconjugates, viz. di- O-tryptophanylphenylalanine curcumin ( 2), di- O-decanoyl curcumin ( 3), di- O-pamitoyl curcumin ( 4), di- O-bis-(γ,γ)folyl curcumin ( 6), C ⁴-ethyl- O-γ-folyl curcumin ( 8) and 4- O-ethyl- O-γ-folyl curcumin ( 10) have been synthesized and tested for their antibacterial and antiviral activities. The conjugates 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 have shown very promising antibacterial activity with MIC ranging between 0.09 and 0.67 μM against Gram-positive cocci and Gram-negative bacilli. Further, the conjugates 2, 3, 6, 8 and 10 have been screened for their antiviral activities against HSV, VSV, FIPV, PIV-3, RSV and FHV and the molecules 2 and 3 have shown good results with EC ₅₀ 0.011 μM and 0.029 μM against VSV and FIPV/FHV, respectively. However, the molecules did not show expected results against HIV-1 III _B and ROD strains in MTT assay.

Graphical abstract