Scytosiphon lomentaria

In order to find new sources of antiviral agents with different mechanisms of action, extracts of marine algae from all over the world were assayed for anti-HSV activity. The first screening of 89 types of seaweed collected from British Columbia, Canada and Korea for antiviral activity was reported by Kim et al. [66]. Analipus japonicus was the most potent anti-herpes algae. Extracts from 13 types of Korean seaweed previously shown to contain antiviral activity were investigated in more detail in order to learn their mechanism of action [14]. Four species, Enteromorpha linza, Colpomenia bullosa, Scytosiphon lomentaria and Undaria pinnatifida were active against HSV. In experiments to determine the site of action of these antiviral extracts, the predominant activity was virucidal (i.e., direct inactivation of virus particles) rather than inhibition of virus replication. 

C17H19N4O8P 438.333 Isol. from the brown alga Scytosiphon lomentaria. Autofluorescent agent. 

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