Faculty of Science Research Talk: Cytotoxic Potential of Clusianone and its Derivatives

Name: Khoo YiVonn – School of Pharmacy

Title: Cytotoxic Potential of Clusianone and its Derivatives

Abstract:

Clusianone belongs to a family of natural products classified as type B polyprenylated polycyclic acylphloroglucines (PPAPs). Existing literature on clusianone reports a wide range of compelling biological activities that includes anti-viral, antioxidant, anti-mutagenic, cytotoxic activity and more. However, there is limited research done on clusianone derivatives via semi-synthetic methods. In this study, clusianone was isolated from Garcinia sp. and semi-synthesis methods like acylation and etherification reactions were employed to obtain six novel derivatives of clusianone (coded: OBz, OBz-NO2, OBz-3Br, OBz-4Br, OBz-3Cl, OBz-4Cl). This study mainly focuses on the role of clusianone and its derivatives as a potential anti-cancer agent. Initial cytotoxicity screenings obtained in this study against two types of human mammalian cancer cell lines which includes the nasopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cell line (HK1) and lung adenocarcinoma cell line (A549) will be further discussed.