Antitumor, antibiotic and antileishmanial properties of the Pyranonaphthoquinone Psychorubrin from Mitracarpus frigidus

An Acad Bras Cienc. 2012 Dec;84(4):1081-90. doi: 10.1590/s0001-37652012005000064. Epub 2012 Oct 4.

Abstract

The bioactivity guided fractionation of the dichloromethane extract of Mitracarpus frigidus afforded the pyranonaphthoquinone psychorubrin. This compound, hitherto unknown in the genus Mitracarpus, had its biological activity evaluated against one panel of bacteria and two fungi, three tumor cell lines (HL60, Jurkat and MCF-7) and four Leishmania species. Its identity was confirmed unambiguously by (1)H, (13)C, (1)H-COSY, IR and UV-Vis spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Psychorubrin displayed a very promising antitumor with IC(50) of 4.5, 5.6 and 1.1 µM for HL60, Jurkat and MCF-7 cell lines, respectively. Antimicrobial activity, mainly against Cryptococcus neoformans (MIC of 87.3 µM) was observed. A pronounced antileishmanial potential was also verified with IC(50) varying from 1.7 to 2.7 µM for the Leishmania species tested. This is the first report of the presence of pyranonapthoquinones in the Mitracarpus genus, which may serve as a chemotaxonomical marker.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / isolation & purification
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / isolation & purification
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology*
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / isolation & purification
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / drug effects
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Leishmania / drug effects
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Naphthoquinones / isolation & purification
  • Naphthoquinones / pharmacology*
  • Rubiaceae / chemistry*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Antiprotozoal Agents
  • Naphthoquinones
  • psychorubrin