Total synthesis of albafuran B and its osteogenic differentiation promoting effect on human mesenchymal stem cells

In the current project, the total synthesis of albafuran B was achieved in four steps and 19.3% overall yield, involving two key reactions of the one-pot Corey-Fuchs reaction and Suzuki coupling. Using the same protocol, two analogs, moracin C and 4'-farnesyl-moracin M, were also successfully synthesized. The effect of albafuran B on the osteogenic differentiation of human umbilical cord-derived and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells was evaluated via alkaline phosphatase staining and alizarin red S staining. The assay results revealed that albafuran B showed good osteogenic differentiation promoting activity toward both cell lines.