Prenylated chromones and flavonoids from Artocarpus heterophyllus with their potential antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory activities

Two new prenylated chromones, artoheterophines A (1) and B (2), five known prenylated chromones (3-7), as well as five known biogenetically related prenylated flavonoids (8-12) were isolated and characterized from the stems and leaves of A. heterophyllus. Their chemical structures were unambiguously determined through comprehensive spectral data analyses. The antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory effects of all these isolated prenylated chromones and flavonoids were evaluated in vitro. As a result, compounds 1-12 showed notable inhibitory effects against various human cancer cell lines with IC₅₀ values ranging from 0.36 ± 0.02 to 22.09 ± 0.16 μM. Meanwhile, compounds 1-12 exhibited significant inhibitory activities on nitric oxide (NO) production holding IC₅₀ values in the range of 0.48 ± 0.05-19.87 ± 0.21 µM. These research results suggest that the isolation and characterization of these prenylated chromones (1-7) and flavonoids (8-12) holding significant antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory activities could be significant to the discovery and development of new natural anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory drugs. The findings also provides a phytochemical evidence for further development and utilization of the stems and leaves of A. heterophyllus in health and pharmaceutical products.

Keywords: Anti-inflammatory effects; Antiproliferative activities; Artocarpus heterophyllus; Prenylated chromones; Prenylated flavonoids.