Anti-inflammatory and Quinone Reductase-Inducing Compounds from Beilschmiedia mannii

Abstract

Objectives: Plant species found in the diet of chimpanzees are shown to be potential candidates in the search for new molecules useful in humans. This study aims to identify plants with high anticancer potential for humans Methods: Seven (7) compounds including two new named desmethoxydihydromethysticin and beilschmiediapyrone as well as five known alkamides were isolated from Beilschmiedia mannii and evaluated for their cancer chemopreventive potential by using quinone reductase induction and nuclear factor-kappa B inhibition tests in Hepa 1c1c7 and HEK-293/NF-κB-Luc cells, respectively. Results: Desmethoxydihydromethysticin and beilschmiediapyrone were the most active. The concentrations to double the quinone reductase activity were 7.5 μM for desmethoxydihydromethysticin and 6.1 μM for beilschmiediapyrone. The compounds inhibited nuclear factor-kappa B with IC50 values of 2.1 and 3.4 μM, respectively Conclusions: B. mannii is a promising plant for cancer chemoprention since it’s consumed by the local population.