Suppression of proliferation of poliovirus and porcine parvovirus by novel phenoxazines, 2-amino-4,4 alpha-dihydro-4 alpha-7-dimethyl-3H-phenoxazine-3-one and 3-amino-1,4 alpha-dihydro-4 alpha-8-dimethyl-2H-phenoxazine-2-one.

The present study aimed at investigating the antiviral effects of 2-amino-4,4alpha-dihydro-4alpha-7-dimethyl-3H-phenoxazine-3-one (Phx-1) and 3-amino-1,4alpha-dihydro-4alpha-8-dimethyl-2H-phenoxazine-2-one (Phx-2) on 6 representative viruses: poliovirus, porcine parvovirus, simian virus 40 (SV-40), herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1), Sindbis virus, and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). Phx-1 and Phx-2 suppressed the proliferation of poliovirus in Vero cells and that of porcine parvovirus in ESK cells at concentrations between 0.25 microg/ml and 2 microg/ml, when the cells were treated with Phx-1 and Phx-2 for 1 h and then inoculated with these viruses. The proliferation of the other viruses, SV-40, HSV-1, Sindbis virus, and VSV, in the host cells was not influenced by Phx-1 or Phx-2 at concentrations less than 20 microg/ml. The results suggest that Phx-1 and Phx-2 may be useful to prevent the proliferation of poliovirus and porcine parvovirus infection and may contribute to developing new antiviral drugs in future.