Antiviral activity of berberine and related compounds against human cytomegalovirus

Berberine chloride (1) and the structurally related compounds were assessed for the anti-human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) activity using the plaque assay. The anti-HCMV activity (IC50 0.68 μM) of 1 was equivalent to that (IC50 0.91 μM) of ganciclovir (GCV). The mechanism of action by which 1 inhibits the replication of HCMV is presumed to be different from that of GCV; 1 would interfere with intracellular events after virus penetration into the host cells and before viral DNA synthesis.