SYNTHESIS, ANTIMICROBIAL AND ANTIVIRAL ACTIVITIES OF NOVEL POLYPHENOLIC COMPOUNDS

Natural and synthetic phenolic compounds belonging to the classes of f lavones, coumarins, xanthones, chalcones, isoflavones and desoxybenzoi ns have been prepared or isolated from plant species, characterized an d tested against a battery of 10 pathogenic bacteria, I yeast, 3 fungi and 3 viruses. Only two of the compound show some moderate bacteriost atic activity against gram-positive cocci, but are like all other prod ucts inactive against gram-negative bacteria, yeasts and fungi. On the contrary, two flavones, one desoxybenzoin and one diacetoxycoumarin e xhibited pronounced antiviral properties against some oi. the viruses tested. Five other coumarin analogs possessed moderate anti-poliomyeli tis properties and one xanthone is to a lesser extent active against V esicular stomatitis vints. OF the compounds synthesized nine are new c ompounds.