Three new 3-formyl-2-arylbenzofurans from Itea yunnanensis and their anti-hepatocellular carcinoma effects

Two New Compounds Isolated from the Itea omeiensis and Their Anti-oxidant Activities

Two new compounds (1-2) together with ten known compounds (3-12) were isolated for the first time from the 95 % EtOH extract of aerial parts of Itea omeiensis. Their structures were elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic analyses and comparison with published data. The structure of 1 was further confirmed through single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, and circular dichroism (CD) spectrum in combination with acid hydrolysis was employed for the absolute configuration determination of 2. Compound 1 was the first 2-arylbenzo[b]furan with an extra six-membered lactone ring from Itea plants. Anti-oxidant assays indicated that compound 1 possessed significant radical scavenging effects on 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS⋅+ ) with IC50 values of 0.14 and 0.06 mg/mL, respectively, which were comparable to the positive control of ascorbic acid. However, no obvious anti-hepatocellular carcinoma activity was observed for compounds 1 and 2.

Two new 2-arylbenzo[b]furans from Itea indochinensis and their anti-hepatocellular carcinoma and anti-oxidant effects

Two new 2-arylbenzo[b]furans (1-2) and ten known compounds (3-12) were identified from the 95% EtOH extract of the branches and leaves of Itea indochinensis for the first time. Their structures were determined mainly based on extensive analyses of UV, IR, 1D/2D NMR and HRMS spectra. The results of MTT assays demonstrated the anti-tumor potential of compound 1 with good selectivity, which displayed moderate inhibitory effects on proliferation of SK-hep-1 cells with IC50 value of 22.3 μM, while weak inhibitory effect on proliferation of HepG2 cells with an inhibition rate of 25% at 20 μM, and no obviously inhibitory effect on proliferation of A549 cells at 20 μM. In addition, compound 1 exhibited its significant scavenging capacity on ABTS·+ free radical with an IC50 value of 0.11 mg/mL, while weak scavenging effects on DPPH and O2·- radicals with scavenging ratios of 32.93% and 21.49% at 1 mg/mL, respectively.

Study on 2-arylbenzo[b]furans from Itea omeiensis and their fragmentation patterns with Q-Orbitrap mass spectrometry

One new 2-arylbenzo[b]furan named iteafuranal F (1) as well as two known analogues (2-3) were isolated from the 95% EtOH extract of aerial parts of Itea omeiensis. Their chemical structures were constructed based on extensive analyses of UV, IR, 1D/2D NMR and HRMS spectra. Antioxidant assays revealed significant superoxide anion radical scavenging capacity of 1 with IC₅₀ value of 0.66 mg/mL, which was comparable to the efficiency of positive control of luteolin. In addition, the preliminary MS fragmentation patterns in negative ion mode were established to distinguish 2-arylbenzo[b]furans with C-10 in different oxidation states: the characteristic loss of CO molecule [M-H-28]^- was observed for 3-formyl-2-arylbenzo[b]furans, and the loss of CH₂O fragment [M-H-30]^- for 3-hydroxymethyl-2-arylbenzo[b]furans, and the loss of CO₂ fragment [M-H-44]^- for 2-arylbenzo[b]furan-3-carboxylic acids.

Anticancer therapeutic potential of benzofuran scaffolds

Benzofuran moiety is the main component of many biologically active natural and synthetic heterocycles. These heterocycles have unique therapeutic potentials and are involved in various clinical drugs. The reported results confirmed the extraordinary inhibitory potency of such benzofurans against a panel of human cancer cell lines compared with a wide array of reference anticancer drugs. Several publications about the anticancer potencies of benzofuran-based heterocycles were encountered. The recent developments of anticancer activities of both natural and synthetic benzofuran scaffolds during 2019-2022 are thoroughly covered. Many of the described benzofurans are promising candidates for development as anticancer agents based on their outstanding inhibitory potency against a panel of human cancer cells compared with reference anticancer drugs. These findings encourage medicinal chemists to explore new areas to improve human health and reduce suffering.

Qualitative and quantitative method for quality control of Itea ilicifolia based on antioxidant Q-markers

Itea ilicifolia Oliv is a folk medicine with antioxidant potential. In this study, the fingerprints of 14 batches of I. ilicifolia were established by HPLC with 17 common peaks. The similarities evaluated by Similarity Evaluation System for Chromatographic Fingerprint of Chinese Materia (version 2012) were >0.89. Ten compounds were identified with definite structures by comparing the retention time and characteristic UV spectral pattern with those of reference substances. The antioxidant capacities of 14 batches of I. ilicifolia were evaluated based on O₂ ^·- , DPPH and ABTS^·+ radical scavenging assays in combination with ferric reducing antioxidant power assay. Via multivariate statistical analyses of gray relation analysis, bivariate correlation analysis and partial least squares regression analysis, a study on the spectrum-effect relationship was then performed to screen eight peaks as the antioxidant Q-markers of I. ilicifolia. The contents of representative antioxidant Q-markers (isoorientin, orientin, vitexin, isovitexin and iteafuranal A) in samples were accurately determined to be 0.054-0.118%, 0.034-0.080%, 0.018-0.055%, 0.031-0.091% and 0.033-0.140%, respectively. The qualitative and quantitative analytical method based on Q-markers helps to control the antioxidant quality of I. ilicifolia, which will lay the foundation to promote the rational utilization of I. ilicifolia in curing diseases related to oxidative stress.