- Chemical Name: Acyclovir - Molecular Formula: C8H11N5O3 - Molecular Weight: 225.21 g/mol - CAS Number: 59277-89-3
Pharmacological Action: Acyclovir is an antiviral drug that primarily inhibits the replication of herpesviruses such as Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) and Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV). Its main mechanisms of action include:
1. Inhibition of Viral DNA Synthesis: Acyclovir is a nucleoside analog that gets activated by viral thymidine kinase, which phosphorylates it to acyclovir monophosphate. This is further converted to acyclovir triphosphate by cellular enzymes. Acyclovir triphosphate competes with deoxyguanosine triphosphate (dGTP) for viral DNA polymerase, gets incorporated into the viral DNA chain, and terminates further DNA synthesis.
2. Selectivity: The drug is selectively taken up and activated by infected cells due to the presence of viral thymidine kinase, making it highly specific in targeting virus-infected cells while sparing uninfected cells. This allows Acyclovir to inhibit viral replication with minimal cytotoxicity to the host cells.
