We disclose a method of inhibiting activity of
adenylyl cyclase or guanylyl
cyclase in a
mammal by administering to the
mammal an amount of a composition effective to inhibit the activity, wherein the composition contains at least one compound selected from the group consisting of structural formulae (Ia) and (Ib) and salts thereof, wherein R1 is —H or has the structure —C(═O)R8; R2 is ═O or has the structure —OC(═O)R9; and R3, R4, R5, R6, and R7 are each independently selected from the group consisting of —H, —NO2, formula (I), -
halogen, —OC(═O)R9, —OR9, —OH, —R8OH, —CH3, —OC(═O)CH2Ph, formulae (II), (III), (IV), —OPh, —CF3, —R8, —C(═O)OR9, -Ph, —R8Ph, formulae (V), (VI), (VII), (VIII), (IX), (X), (XI), (XII), (XIII), (XIV), (XV), (XVI), (XVII), (XVIII), (XIX), (XX), and (XXI), wherein each R8 is independently a linear or branched
hydrocarbon group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and each R9 is independently a
hydrocarbon group having from 1 to 2 carbon atoms. Administering the composition can be used to treat a
disease in a
mammal mediated by activity of
adenylyl cyclase or guanylyl
cyclase and effected by a
toxin produced by a
pathogenic organism or to reduce cyclic AMP or cyclic GMP levels in a mammal in need of reduction thereof. The composition can also be administered to mammalian cells
in vitro. The above methods of inhibiting activity of
adenylyl cyclase or guanylyl
cyclase and treating diseases via such inhibition can be effective without prolonged treatment, have reversible effects, have low or no
toxicity, are highly potent, are unlikely to have side effects, do not act on purinergic receptors, or can negate pathogenic toxins independently of whether the
pathogenic organism survives.