Novel terpene hydroquinones have been isolated from the marine sponge Strongylophora hartmanii. These compounds have been found to have antiviral and anti-leukemia activity. Thus, these compounds, and derivatives thereof, can be used to treat human and animal leukemia as well as viral infections. Additionally, the subject invention concerns the discovery that the terpene hydroquinone known as aureol has strong antiviral activity.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION
This is division of application Ser. No. 07/548,784, filed Jul. 6, 1990, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,091,412 which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07/480,996, filed Feb. 16, 1990, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,051,519.
Optically pure enantiomers of avarol are obtained. The enantiomers of avarol are demonstrated to be highly effective inhibitors of .alpha.-glucosidase and .alpha.-mannosidase. Other enzymes assayed were not inhibited by these optically pure compounds. Inhibition of these two enzymes is useful for a variety of assays and probes, and offers particular utility in the treatment of retroviral infection-associated syndromes, such as AIDS.
Compositions and methods of treating anemia, cancer, AIDS, or severe .beta.-chain hemoglobinopathies by administering a therapeutically effective amount of phenylacetate or pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof or derivatives thereof alone or in combination or in conjunction with other therapeutic agents including retinoids, hydroxyurea, and flavonoids. Intravesicle methods of treatment of cancers phenylacetate. Pharmacologically-acceptable salts alone or in combinations and methods of preventing AIDS and malignant conditions, and inducing cell differentiation are also aspects of this invention. A product as a combined preparation of phenylacetate and a retinoid, hydroxyurea, or flavonid (or other mevalonate pathway inhibitor) for simultaneous, separate, or sequential use in treating a neoplastic condition in a subject. Methods of modulating lipid metabolism and/or reducing serum triglycerides in a subject using phenylacetate.
