Isoflavanquinones from Abrus precatorius roots with their antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory effects

Emeka E Okoro; Rukesh Maharjan; Almas Jabeen; Malik Shoaib Ahmad; Mudassir Azhar; Nuzhat Shehla; Wajid Zaman; Sidrah Shams; Omolaja R Osoniyi; Funmilayo D Onajobi; M Iqbal Choudhary

doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2021.112743

Isoflavanquinones from Abrus precatorius roots with their antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory effects

Phytochemistry. 2021 Jul:187:112743. doi: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2021.112743. Epub 2021 May 4.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Biochemistry Department, Babcock University Ilishan-Remo, Ikeja, PMB 21244, Nigeria; Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD), International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan; HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan; Biology Department, Adventist University of West Africa, Monrovia, Liberia. Electronic address: okoroemeka2003@gmail.com.
² HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan.
³ Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD), International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan.
⁴ Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD), International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan; HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan.
⁵ Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria.
⁶ Biochemistry Department, Babcock University Ilishan-Remo, Ikeja, PMB 21244, Nigeria.

PMID: 33962136
DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2021.112743

Abstract

Phytochemical studies on the root of Abrus precatorius Linn. (Fabaceae), leads towards the identification of four undescribed (abruquinones M, N, O, and P), and seven known abruquinones, (abruquinones A, E, B, F, I, D, and G). Spectroscopic analyses (1D, and 2D NMR, HRESI-MS) were used in elucidating structures of the all compounds. Evaluation of anticancer activities of the isolated isoflavanquinones revealed that abruquinones M, and N showed cytotoxicity against oral CAL-27 (IC₅₀ values 6.48 and 5.26 μM, respectively), and colon (Caco-₂) cell lines (IC₅₀ values 15.79 and 10.33 μM, respectively). Abruquinone M also inhibited the growth of lung cancer cells (NCI-H460) with IC₅₀ of 31.33 μM. The isolated isoflavanquiones also showed potent anti-inflammatory potential through phagocyte oxidative burst and pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α inhibition in vitro. These findings suggest isoflavanquinones from A. precatorius roots as candidates for further research in cancer treatment.

Keywords: Abruquinone; Abrus precatorius; Anti-inflammatory; Anti-proliferative; Fabaceae; Isoflavanquinone; Isoflavanquinones.

MeSH terms

Abrus*
Fabaceae*