title: Chemical modification and anticancer effect of prenylated flavanones from Taiwanese propolis.
abstract: Our previous studies demonstrated that eight prenylated flavanones (1-8), isolated from Taiwanese propolis, were capable of a broad spectrum of biological activities. Among them, nymphaeol A (3), nymphaeol B (4) and nymphaeol C (7), abundant in Taiwanese propolis, exhibited cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines. It therefore seemed interesting to improve their activity via a semi-synthetic strategy. In this study, 12 novel prenylated flavanones were synthesised in our laboratory and their activities were assessed for two human prostate cancer cell lines, PC-3 and DU-145, and a human hepatoma cell line, Hep-3B. Of these compounds, 10c, 11 and 12 showed more potent cytotoxicity against the PC-3 cell line than 5-Fu. Using cytometric analysis followed by double staining with annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide, it was observed that these compounds induced apoptosis as well. This suggests that prenylated flavanones 10c, 11 and 12 may have anticancer potential for further development.
authors.affiliation: NatureWise Biotech & Medicals Corporation, Taipei 115, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Nan
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Che-Jen
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hsiao
authors.forename: Shoei-Sheng
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jih-Hwa
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Guh
authors.forename: Po-Cheng
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: Chih-Chiang
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Wei-Jan
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D055808:Drug Discovery; D044950:Flavanones / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D015394:Molecular Structure; D054876:Prenylation; D011429:Propolis / Q000737:chemistry*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D013624:Taiwan
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D044950:Flavanones; C562280:nymphaeol C; D011429:Propolis