| abstract |
The present invention reveals the isolation, purification and characterization from the creosote bush Larrea tridentata of compounds of structural formula (I) where R1, R2, R3 and R4 are each selected from the group consisting of HO-, CH3O- and CH3(C=O)O-, provided that R1, R2, R3 and R4 are not each HO- simultaneously. Each compound is a derivative of 1,4-bis-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2, 3--dimethylbutane (nordihydroquaiaretic acid, NDGA). In addition, NDGA and each derivative can be used in a method to suppress Tat transactivation of a lentivirus, including the HIV virus, in a cell by administering NDGA or a derivative of NDGA to the cell. |