Moracin C

Biol Pharm Bull. 2012;35(5):791-5.

Chalcomoracin and moracin C, new inhibitors of Staphylococcus aureus enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase from Morus alba.[Pubmed: 22687419 ]

Bacterial enoyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) reductase has been confirmed as a novel target for antibacterial drug development.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
In the screening of inhibitors of Staphylococcus aureus enoyl-ACP reductase (FabI), we found that a methanol extract of leaves of Morus alba L. potently inhibited S. aureus FabI as well as growth of S. aureus. The active principles were identified as chalcomoracin and Moracin C by MS and NMR analysis. Chalcomoracin and Moracin C inhibited S. aureus FabI with IC(50) of 5.5 and 83.8 µM, respectively. They also prevented the growth of S. aureus with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 4 and 32 µg/mL, respectively. Consistent with their inhibition against FabI and bacterial growth, they prevented (14)C]acetate incorporation into fatty acid in S. aureus while didn't affect protein synthesis.
CONCLUSIONS:
In this study, we reported that chalcomoracin and Moracin C, potent antibacterial compounds from Morus alba, inhibited FabI and fatty acid synthesis.

Annals of Plant Sciences, 2013,2(10):412-9.

Effect of Moracin on DMBA-TPA induced skin cancer in the mice, Mus musculus (L).[Reference: WebLink]

The phytochemicals serves to orchestrate the healthy metabolism in the animal cells. The efforts in the study were conducted to assess the protective influence of Moracin, the major constituent of leaves of mulberry, Morus alba (L.) on tumor promotion in 7, 12 – dimethylbenz (alpha) anthracene (DMBA) – initiated and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) – promoted mouse skin tumerigenesis model.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
The acetone solution of Moracin was topically applied to DMBA – initiated female mouse (Mus musculus) skin at the dosage of 2.5 and 5 mg twice per week for sixteen weeks, thirty minutes prior to each promotion treatment with TPA in the first experimental schedule. The significant reduction in tumor incidence and tumor multiplicity effects were evident in the treated group. The expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) – alpha protein and the level of 4-hydroxynoneal (4HNE) in the normal epidermis were significantly reduced in both moracin treated groups. Moracin at the dosage of 5 mg was topically applied to the dorsal surface of mouse skin 30 minutes before application of a TPA in the second effort in the study. And the same dosages of TPA and Moracin were applied twice at the interval of 24 hours. Moracin treatment was found inhibiting the double TPA treatment – induced morphological changes reflecting inflammatory response, including leucocyte infiltration, hyperplasia and cell proliferation.
CONCLUSIONS:
Moracin treatment furthermore significantly suppressed the elevation in 4-HNE level and elevated expression of c-fos, c-myc and cycloxygenase-2 (COX-2) in normal epidermis induced by double application of TPA. The moracin was found protective influence in tumor promotion. Utilization of Moracin may open a new avenue in the treatment of tumerigenesis.

Int J Mol Sci. 2016 Aug; 17(8): 1199.

Moracin C, A Phenolic Compound Isolated from Artocarpus heterophyllus, Suppresses Lipopolysaccharide-Activated Inflammatory Responses in Murine Raw264.7 Macrophages[Pubmed: 27463712]

Artocarpus heterophyllus, a popular tropical fruit commonly known as the jackfruit tree, is normally planted in subtropical or tropical areas. Since a variety of phytochemicals isolated from A. heterophyllus have been found to possess potently anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antimalarial activities, researchers have devoted much interest to its potential pharmaceutical value. However, the exact mechanism underlying its anti-inflammatory activity is not well characterized.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
In this study, seven natural products isolated from A. heterophyllus, including 25-Hydroxycycloart-23-en-3-one (HY), Artocarpin (AR), Dadahol A (DA), Morachalcone A (MA), Artoheterophyllin B (AB), Cycloheterophyllin (CY) and Moracin C (MC) were collected. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated inflammatory response in RAW264.7 macrophages were used in this study. Among these compounds, MC significantly inhibited LPS-activated reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) release without marked cytotoxicity. Furthermore, MC effectively reduced LPS stimulated up-regulation of mRNA and protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and serval pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α)).
CONCLUSIONS:
Mechanistic studies revealed that the anti-inflammatory effect of MC was associated with the activation of the mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs) (including p38, ERK and JNK) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathways, especially reducing the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 subunit as revealed by nuclear separation experiment and confocal microscopy.

Chem. Lett., 1978(11):1239-40.

Moracin C and D, new phytoalexins from diseased mulberry.[Reference: WebLink]

Two antifungal compounds, Moracin C and moracin D, have been isolated from fungus-infected cortex and phloem tissues of mulberry shoots and their structures have been determined to be formulas 3 and 5 on the basis of the spectral and chemical evidence, respectively.