Abstract: A CHCl3-soluble fraction of 70% EtOH extract of the flower of Kayea assamica from Myanmar exhibited 100% preferential cytotoxicity (PC(100)) against human pancreatic cancer PANC-1 cells under nutrient-deprived conditions at 1 microg/mL. Bioassay-guided fractionation and isolation afforded nine new coumarins, kayeassamins A (8), B (9), and C-I (1-7), together with nine known coumarins (10-18). The structures of these compounds were identified by extensive spectroscopic techniques as well as by comparison with published data. Absolute configuration at C-1' of 1 was established as S-configuration by the modified Mosher method. All the isolates were evaluated for their in vitro preferential cytotoxicity using novel anti-austerity strategy. Among them, the novel coumarins, kayeassamins A (8), B (9), D (2), E (3), and G (5) exhibited the most potent preferential cytotoxicity (PC(100) 1 microM) in a concentration- and time-dependent manner and induced apoptosis-like morphological changes of PANC-1 cells within 24 h of treatment. Based on the observed cytotoxicity, structure-activity relationships have been established.

Abstract: Investigation of the non-polar fraction of Boesenbergia pandurata of Myanmar led to the identification of six novel secondary metabolites, panduratins D-I (1-6), together with known diastereomers, panduratins B1 (7) and B2 (8). Their structures were determined based on extensive spectroscopic analysis. The in vitro preferential cytotoxicity of all isolates was examined against human pancreatic PANC-1 cancer cells under nutrient-deprived conditions. All exhibited a mild activity.

Abstract: Human pancreatic cancer cells such as PANC-1 are known to exhibit marked tolerance to nutrition starvation that enables them to survive for prolonged period of time even under extremely nutrient-deprived conditions. Thus, elimination of this tolerance to nutrition starvation is regarded as a novel approach in anticancer drug development. In this study, the MeOH soluble extract of Brazilian red propolis was found to kill 100% PANC-1 cells preferentially in the nutrient-deprived condition at the concentration of 10 microg/mL. Further phytochemical investigation led to the isolation of 43 compounds including three new compounds, (6aS,11aS)-6a-ethoxymedicarpan (1), 2-(2',4'-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-methyl-6-methoxybenzofuran (2), and 2,6-dihydroxy-2-[(4-hydroxyphenyl)methyl]-3-benzofuranone (3). Among them, (6aR,11aR)-3,8-dihydroxy-9-methoxypterocarpan (21, DMPC) displayed the most potent 100% preferential cytotoxicity (PC(100)) at the concentration of 12.5 microM. Further study on the mode of cell death induced by DMPC against PANC-1 cells indicated that killing process was not accompanied by DNA fragmentation, rather through a nonapoptotic pathway accompanied by necrotic-type morphological changes.

Abstract: The CHCl(3)-soluble fraction of 70% EtOH extract of the flower of Kayea assamica completely killed human pancreatic PANC-1 cancer cells preferentially under nutrient-deprived conditions at 1 microg/mL. Bioassay-guided fractionation and isolation afforded two novel compounds, kayeassamins A (1) and B (2). Their structures were elucidated using extensive spectroscopic methods and the modified Mosher method. Each compound showed 100% preferential cytotoxicity (PC(100)) against PANC-1 cells under nutrient-deprived conditions at 1 microM. Furthermore, both compounds inhibited the migration of PANC-1 cells in the wound closure assay.

Abstract: Several classes of flavonoids [flavanoids (1-10), flavonol (11), isoflavones (12-18), isoflavanones (19-22), isoflavans (23-26), chalcones (27-30), auronol (31), pterocarpans (32-37), 2-arylbenzofuran (38), and neoflavonoid (39)] and lignans (40-42) isolated from the MeOH extract of Brazilian red propolis were investigated for their cytotoxic activity against a panel of six different cancer cell lines including murine colon 26-L5 carcinoma, murine B16-BL6 melanoma, murine Lewis lung carcinoma, human lung A549 adenocarcinoma, human cervix HeLa adenocarcinoma, and human HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cell lines. Based on the observed results, structure-activity relationships were discussed. Among the tested compounds, 7-hydroxy-6-methoxyflavanone (3) exhibited the most potent activity against B16-BL6 (IC(50), 6.66microM), LLC (IC(50), 9.29microM), A549 (IC(50), 8.63microM), and HT-1080 (IC(50), 7.94microM) cancer cell lines, and mucronulatol (26) against LLC (IC(50), 8.38microM) and A549 (IC(50), 9.9microM) cancer cell lines. These activity data were comparable to those of the clinically used anticancer drugs, 5-fluorouracil and doxorubicin, against the tested cell lines, suggesting that 3 and 26 are the good candidates for future anticancer drug development.

Abstract: The chloroform extract of rhizomes of Boesenbergia pandurata demonstrated marked preferential cytotoxicity against human pancreatic PANC-1 cancer cells in nutrient-deprived medium. Bioactivity-directed investigation of this extract yielded four new secondary metabolites, geranyl-2,4-dihydroxy-6-phenethylbenzoate ( 1), 2',4'-dihydroxy-3'-(1''-geranyl)-6'-methoxychalcone ( 2), (1' R,2' S,6' R)-2-hydroxyisopanduratin A ( 3), and (2 R)-8-geranylpinostrobin ( 4), and twenty known compounds ( 5- 24). Among the known compounds, (2 S)-6-geranylpinostrobin ( 5), (+/-)-6-methoxypanduratin A ( 6), and (2 S)-7,8-dihydro-5-hydroxy-2-methyl-2-(4''-methyl-3''-pentenyl)-8-phenyl-2 H,6 H-benzo[1,2- b:5,4- b']dipyran-6-one ( 7) were isolated for the first time from a natural source. The structures of these compounds were elucidated using extensive spectroscopic techniques including CD measurements. All the isolated compounds showed varying degrees of in vitro preferential cytotoxicity against PANC-1 cells. Nicolaioidesin B ( 11) and panduratin A ( 17) were most potent, each showing a PC 100 at 2.5 microM.

Abstract: Ten new furanocassane-type diterpenes named, caesalpinins H-P (1-9) and norcaesalpinin F (10), were isolated from the CH(2)Cl(2) extract of the seed kernels of Caesalpinia crista, together with 13 known diterpenes. Their structures were determined based on the spectroscopic analysis. Among the isolated compounds, caesalpinin N (7) represents the first example of furanocassane-type diterpene possessing an aldehyde group at C-14.

Abstract: Malaria is one of the most life-threatening infectious diseases worldwide and claims millions of people's lives each year. The appearance of drug-resistance Plasmodium falciparum has made the treatment of malaria increasingly problematic, and thus, it is a dire need to search the new alternatives of current drugs. In the present study, 44 cassane- and norcassane-type diterpenes isolated from Caesalpinia crista of Myanmar and Indonesia were evaluated for their antimalarial activity against the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum FCR-3/A2 clone in vitro. Most of the tested diterpenes displayed antimalarial activity, and norcaesalpinin E (28) showed the most potent activity with an IC50 value of 0.090 microM, more potent than the clinically used drug chloroquine (IC50, 0.29 microM). Based on the observed results, a structure-activity relationship has been established.

Abstract: The wood of Taxus yunnanensis (Taxaceae) showed growth inhibitory activities against human cancer cell lines, such as cervical HeLa adenocarcinoma. The morphological changes indicated that the cellular growth inhibitions were caused by apoptosis. To determine the active components, T. yunnanensis wood was analyzed by using a liquid chromatography-Fourier-transform MS (LC/FT-MS) technique. As a result, taxane-type diterpenes, such as 10-deacetylcephalomannine and 10-deacetyltaxol, were found to be present in amounts consistent with the growth inhibitory activity.

Abstract: In the course of our search for anticancer agents based on a novel anti-austerity strategy, we found that the 70 % EtOH extract of "Pini Resina" showed 100 % preferential cytotoxicity at the concentration of 50 microg/mL. Further bioassay-guided fractionation and purification led to the isolation of 15 compounds including one new compound 7-oxo-13 alpha-hydroxyabiet-8(14)-en-18-oic acid (1). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. Among the isolated compounds, methyl abieta-8,11,13-trien-18-oate (7) showed the most potent preferential cytotoxicity at 10 microg/mL under nutrient-deprived condition.