Final answer:
The nucleoside AICAR was found to lack antiviral activity but synthesized C-Nucleosides, particularly compounds 17a and 17b, demonstrated notable antiproliferative effects on cancer cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nucleoside AICAR was studied and found to be ineffective in inhibiting the replication of various DNA and RNA viruses. However, certain synthesized C-Nucleosides, particularly compounds 17a and 17b, displayed significant antiproliferative activity in cancer cell lines such as HepG2, HT-29, and SH-SY5Y, reducing cell proliferation by up to 56% after 72 hours of incubation at a 100 µM concentration. This research highlights the potential for carbocyclic nucleosides and their analogues, such as carboxylated acyclonucleosides and arylated nucleoside derivatives, to act as potent anticancer agents by targeting different biochemical pathways including methylation of nucleic acids and proteins, RNase A inhibition, and potential interference with enzymes relevant for cancer proliferation such as 2'-deoxynucleoside 5'-phosphate N-hydrolase 1 (DNPH1).