The activity against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and herpes sim
plex virus (HSV), of the non-polar fraction of a methanolic extract of
the rootbark of Schumanniophyton magnificum was found to be present i
n a fraction containing the chromone secondary amine schumannificine 1
. Other chromone alkaloids present in the plant were isolated and test
ed for inhibition of HIV and HSV infections in C8166 and Vero cells, r
espectively. Acyl and methyl derivatives were prepared and tested. Of
all the compounds tested, schumannificine 1 displayed the greatest act
ivity against HIV, whereas potent anti-HSV activity was observed for a
number of its derivatives. The presence of a piperidine ring and unsu
bstituted hydroxy groups on the molecules seems to favour the anti-HIV
activity. The anti-HIV activity is considered to be due to irreversib
le binding to gp120 rather than inhibition of reverse transcriptase or
protease.