Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026

Sexual Development and Ascospore Discharge in Fusarium graminearum
Published on: March 29, 2012
Homoisoflavanones from Disporopsis aspera
Anh-Tho Nguyen1, Jeanine Fontaine, Hugues Malonne
1Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Bromatology and Human Nutrition, Institute of Pharmacy CP 205-9, Université Libre de Bruxelles, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium. annhth@ulb.ac.be <annhth@ulb.ac.be>
Abstract:
From cytotoxic extracts of the roots of Disporopsis aspera Engl. (Liliaceae) a homoisoflavanone, disporopsin (3-(2',4'-dihydroxy-benzyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-chroman-4-one) (1) and three rare methyl-homoisoflavanones, 3-(4'-hydroxy-benzyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-6-methyl-chroman-4-one (2), 3-(4'-hydroxy-benzyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-6,8-dimethyl-chroman-4-one (3) and 3-(4'-hydroxy-benzyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-6-methyl-8-methoxy-chroman-4- one (4) along with five other known compounds, N-trans-feruloyl tyramine (5), adenine (6), 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-furfural (7), beta-sitosterol (8) and beta-sitosteryl glucopyranoside (9) were isolated. The structures of compounds 1-2 were elucidated by spectral data (1, 2-D NMR and EIMS). The four homoisoflavanones (1-4) were found to be cytotoxic against a series of human cancer cell lines (HCT15, T24S, MCF7, Bowes, A549 and K562) with IC(50) ranging from 15 to 200 microM. Possible biosynthesis routes for homoisoflavonoids (1-4) are discussed.
Related Concept Videos
Fungal Phylum Ascomycota
Antifungal Agents
Disubstituted Cyclohexanes: cis-trans Isomerism
In cyclohexane, the substituents can occupy different positions generating distinct isomers.
Preparation of Diols and Pinacol Rearrangement
The reaction begins with transferring a proton from the acid catalyst to one of the hydroxyl groups, producing an oxonium ion.
Five-Membered Heterocyclic Aromatic Compounds: Overview

