The search for new drugs synthesis and antiviral activity of derivatives of meristotropic and macedonic acids

The antiviral activity of natural triterpene acids meristotropic and macedonic acids and their synthetic derivatives was studied. The activities of these compounds were assessed in relation to influenza viruses A and B in MDCK cell cultures and in a model of lethal influenza pneumonia in mice. The greatest levels of in vitro activity were seen with meristotropic acid and the methyl ester of macedonic acid. A correlation was noted between the activities of these compounds against influenza A and B viruses. At the same time, some of the study compounds lacked in vitro activity but had protective properties in vivo, which indicates that these have some other mechanism of action not associated with actions on virus-specific targets. These results allow derivatives of meristotropic and macedonic acids to be regarded as new effective antiviral agents.