Homopterocarpin

Journal of Shenyang Pharmaceutical University,2001, 18(3):211-212.

The inhibitory effects of homopterocarpin and medicarpin on human^s liver cancer cells in vitro[Reference: WebLink]

An observation on the anticancer activity of Homopterocarpin and medicarpin in vitro, which was separated from the root of Glycyrrhiza pallidiflora Maxim.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
The cell culture test was used in these studies in vitro. The experimental result showed that these two ingredients could inhibite (lower concentration) or kill (higher concntration) human^s liver cancer cells under the cultured condition, moreover, the effect of medicarpin was stronger than that of Homopterocarpin.
CONCLUSIONS:
These two monomers were active components of Glycyrrhiza pallidiflora Maxim.

J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol. 2015 Mar 26.

Effect of homopterocarpin, an isoflavonoid from Pterocarpus erinaceus, on indices of liver injury and oxidative stress in acetaminophen-provoked hepatotoxicity.[Pubmed: 25811665]

Novel hepatoprotectives are needed to address the increasing cases of liver problems worldwide. Pterocarpus erinaceus Poir (Fabaceae) ethanol stem bark extract (PE) and its constituent flavonoid, Homopterocarpin (HP), were investigated for their protective property in acetaminophen-induced oxidative stress and liver damage.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
Adult male albino rats were divided into nine groups. Seven groups were pretreated with PE (50-, 100-, and 150 mg/kg), HP (25-, 50-, and 75 mg/kg) or silymarin (25 mg/kg), respectively, once daily for 5 consecutive days and then administered acetaminophen (2 g/kg) on the 5th day. The control and acetaminophen-intoxicated groups received normal saline throughout the experimental period, with the latter group additionally receiving 2 g/kg acetaminophen on the 5th day. Administrations were performed po. In the acetaminophen-intoxicated group, there were significant increases (p<0.05) in serum activities of alanine aminotransferase (31.72±3.3 vs. 22.1±1.2 U/I), aspartate aminotransferase (185.1±10.1 vs. 103.83±13.3 U/I), bilirubin level and hepatic malondialdehyde (2.32±0.3 vs. 1.42±0.1 units/mg protein), accompanied with significant decreases (p<0.05) in hepatic reduced glutathione level (0.10±0.01 vs. 0.23±0.03 units/mg protein) and glutathione peroxidase activity (2.51±0.2 vs. 3.25±0.2 μmol H2O2 consumed/min/mg protein) compared with the control.
CONCLUSIONS:
PE and HP ameliorated most of the observed biochemical alterations with HP appearing to show more potency. The results suggest that the flavonoid, Homopterocarpin contributes to the hepatoprotective and antioxidant potentials of P. erinaceus extract.

Asian Pac J Trop Med. 2013 Mar;6(3):200-4.

Homopterocarpin contributes to the restoration of gastric homeostasis by Pterocarpus erinaceus following indomethacin intoxication in rats.[Pubmed: 23375033 ]

To investigate the restorative effect of Pterocarpus erinaceus (P. erinaceus) and Homopterocarpin, an isoflavonoid isolated from it, on indomethacin-induced disruption in gastric homeostasis in rats.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
Adult rats were divided into five groups and fasted for 48 h before treatment. Group 1 received olive oil (vehicle), group 2 received 25 mg/kg indomethacin while groups 3-5 received cimetidine (100 mg/kg), Homopterocarpin (25 mg/kg) and P. erinaceus ethanolic stem bark extract (100 mg/kg) respectively. Pretreatment with either Pterocarpus bark extract or Homopterocarpin reversed the effects of indomethacin on the evaluated parameters.
CONCLUSIONS:
These results indicate that both Homopterocarpin and Pterocarpus extract offered gastroprotection against indomethacin-induced ulcer by antioxidative mechanism and the modulation of gastric homeostasis. The results also suggest that Homopterocarpin might be responsible for, or contribute to the antiulcerogenic property of P. erinaceus.

Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2006 Aug;70(8):1864-8.

Insect antifeedants, pterocarpans and pterocarpol, in heartwood of Pterocarpus macrocarpus Kruz.[Pubmed: 16926498 ]

The insect antifeedant activities of pterocarpans and a sesquiterpene alcohol from the dichloromethane extract of Pterocarpus macrocarpus Kruz. (Leguminosae) were evaluated against the common cutworm, Spodoptera litura F. (Noctuidae), and the subterranean termite, Reticulitermes speratus (Kolbe)(Rhinotermitidae).
METHODS AND RESULTS:
Three pterocarpans, (-)-Homopterocarpin (1), (-)-pterocarpin (2), and (-)-hydroxyHomopterocarpin (3) and the sesquiterpene alcohol, (+)-pterocarpol (5), were isolated from the dichloromethane extract of the heartwood of P. macrocarpus under guidance by a biological assay. Among these natural products, the most active insect antifeedant against both S. litura and R. speratus was 1. On the other hand, sesquiterpene alcohol 5 showed less insect antifeedant activity than the other pterocarpans against both insect species. While its methylated derivative, (-)-methoxyHomopterocarpin (4), showed high biological activity, 3 showed less insect antifeedant activity in this study.
CONCLUSIONS:
Interestingly, racemic 1 did not show insect antifeedant activity against S. litura. However, all of the test pterocarpans and isoflavones showed antifeedant activity against the test termites. Additionally, since these compounds were major constituents of P. macrocarpus, these antifeedant phenolics may act as chemical defense factors in this tree. In Thailand, lumber made from this tree is used to make furniture and in building construction due to its resistance to termite attack.