Inhibition of MMP-2 secretion from brain tumor cells suggests chemopreventive properties of a furanocoumarin glycoside and of chalcones isolated from the twigs of Dorstenia turbinata

Abstract A furanocoumarin glycoside new named turbinatocoumarin ( 1 ) was isolated from the twigs of Dorstenia turbinata. The structure of turbinatocoumarin ( 1 ) was assigned as 5-methoxy-3-[3-(β-glucopyranosyloxy)-2-hydroxy-3-methylbutyl]psoralen by means of spectroscopic analysis. Known compounds have also been isolated from this genus and identified as (2′S, 3′R)-3′-hydroxymarmesin ( 2 ), 5-methoxy-3-(3-methyl-2,3-dihydroxybutyl)psoralen ( 3 ), psoralen ( 4 ), kanzonol C ( 5 ) which was isolated for the first time from this genus, 4-hydroxylonchocarpin ( 6 ), umbelliferone, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde and 4-methoxyphenol. As part of our continuing search for potential naturally-occurring antitumor drug candidates, the inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 secretion from brain tumor-derived glioblastoma cells by the isolated compounds 1 , 3 , 5 , and 6 was evaluated by zymography and compared to the documented naturally-occurring MMP secretion inhibitors chlorogenic acid ( CHL ) and epigallocatechin-3-gallate ( EGCg ). Among the compounds tested, the inhibiting MMP secretion concentrations ranged from 0.025 to 250 μM with up to 80% inhibition. The inhibitory activities of compounds 5 and 6 were found comparable to the common reference compounds CHL and EGCg . This suggests that alternate sources can be explored and exploited for the availability of chemopreventive molecules.