Cytotoxic flavonoids from two Lonchocarpus species.

Area of Science:

• Phytochemistry
• Natural Products Chemistry
• Pharmacology

Background:

• The genus Lonchocarpus is known for its diverse secondary metabolites.
• Isoflavones and pterocarpans are classes of natural products with potential biological activities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To isolate and characterize new and known compounds from Lonchocarpus bussei and Lonchocarpus eriocalyx.
• To evaluate the cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects of the isolated compounds against various cancer cell lines.

Main Methods:

• Isolation and structure elucidation of compounds using spectroscopic techniques (e.g., NMR, MS).
• Cytotoxicity and antiproliferative activity assessment using resazurin assay.
• Testing against drug-sensitive and multidrug-resistant cancer cell lines.

Main Results:

• A new isoflavone (4'-prenyloxyvigvexin A) and a new pterocarpan ((6aR,11aR)-3,8-dimethoxybitucarpin B) were identified.
• Several known compounds, including isoflavones, a chalcone, and pterocarpans, were also isolated.
• Significant antiproliferative effects (IC50 < 10 μM) were observed for specific isoflavones and the chalcone against leukemia, breast, and glioblastoma cancer cell lines, including resistant strains.

Conclusions:

• Lonchocarpus species are a rich source of bioactive isoflavones and pterocarpans.
• Compounds like durmillone and 4-hydroxylonchocarpin demonstrate potent antiproliferative activity against a range of cancer cells, including multidrug-resistant ones.
• These findings suggest potential for developing novel anticancer agents from these plant sources.