Two new cytotoxic phenylallylflavanones from Mexican propolis

Two new phenylallylflavanones, (2R,3R)-6-[1-(4'-hydroxy-3'-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-yl]pinobanksin (1) and (2R,3R)-6-[1-(4'-hydroxy-3'-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-yl]pinobanksin 3-acetate (2) were isolated from a methanolic extract of Mexican propolis. Their structures were elucidated with spectroscopic analysis. Both compounds (1, 2) exhibited preferential cytotoxic activity against PANC-1 human pancreatic cancer cells in a nutrient-deprived medium with the concentration at which 50% cells died preferentially in NDM (PC₅₀) values of 17.9 μM and 9.1 μM, respectively.