Isolation and biotransformation of goniothalamin in the production of goniothalamin analogue

Goniothalamin is a pharmacologically active styrylpyrone compound extracted from Goniothalamus species. It was found to be selectively preventing proliferation of several cancer cell lines without being cytotoxic towards normal cells. Further research on this compound and its derivatives revealed that some of the derivatives also possess anti proliferative activity. The purpose of this study is to synthesise goniothalamin derivatives via biotransformation of goniothalamin using an enzyme assay. Goniothalamin which was isolated from Goniothalamus andersonii, was allowed to react with dienelactone hydrolase for 30 minutes. The enzyme reaction’s product was extracted and analysed using LC-MS. Based on the pseudomelecular ion, one goniothalamin analogue with dihydro functionality was obtained.