Anti-herpes virus activity of Solanum steroidal glycosides

Since some Solanum-genus plants have traditionally been used for anti-cance r and anti-herpes agents from olden times, we examined anti-herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) activity of typical steroidal glycosides,vith the fram eworks of spirostane (including nuatigenin glycoside), furostane, solasodan e, tomatidane and ergostane (including dimer) obtained from Solanum plants. Among these steroidal glycosides, the spirostanol glycosides were most eff ective. An inclination was observed for the potency of activity to decrease in the order of spirostane, tomatidane, ergostane, solasodane, nuatigenin type, dimer of ergostane and furostane. It was also suggested that the acti vity depends on the kind of oligosaccharide moiety.