Pomiferin

Nat Prod Commun. 2015 Sep;10(9):1577-80.

Potential of Horse Apple Isoflavones in Targeting Inflammation and Tau Protein Fibrillization.[Pubmed: 26594763]

In our ongoing search for anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective agents of natural origin, the total methanolic extract (MPE) of horse apple (Maclura pomifera) and its two major prenylated isoflavones, osajin (OSA) and Pomiferin (POM), were evaluated in vitro for their ability to affect four mediators of inflammation and to inhibit tau protein fibrillization.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
The two isoflavones were effective in enhancing the activity of NSAID activated gene (NAG-1) at 2.5 pg/mL (1.5-1.8 fold increase) and inhibiting iNOS and NF-κB activity with IC50 values in the range of 6-13 μg/mL. Pomiferin also inhibited intracellular oxidative stress with IC50 of 3.3 μg/mL, while osajin did not show any effect. The extract activated NAG-1 and inhibited iNOS and oxidative stress without affecting NF-κB.
CONCLUSIONS:
As observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), MPE, OSA and POM also inhibited arachidonic acid-induced tau fibrillization in a concentration-dependent manner.

J Agric Food Chem. 2011 Dec 28;59(24):13328-36.

Antiproliferative activity of pomiferin in normal (MCF-10A) and transformed (MCF-7) breast epithelial cells.[Pubmed: 22087557 ]

Pomiferin and osajin are prenylated isoflavones from Osage orange fruit that both have potent antioxidant activity in a variety of assays. Pomiferin, in particular, has strong activity against the superoxide anion in a photochemiluminescence (PCL) assay system. In vitro, Pomiferin, but not osajin, demonstrated selective antiproliferative activity against the tumorigenic breast epithelial cell line MCF-7 (IC(50) = 5.2 μM) with limited toxicity toward nontumorigenic breast epithelial cells (MCF-10A).
METHODS AND RESULTS:
The differential sensitivity of normal and tumorigenic cells to the antiproliferative action of Pomiferin was examined further by using cDNA microarrays. With a stringent cutoff of p < 0.01, a total of 94 genes were significantly differentially expressed between MCF-7 and MCF-10A cells; 80 up-regulated and 14 down-regulated when cells were exposed to 5 μM Pomiferin for 24 h. Fold changes by microarray analysis were confirmed using RT-qPCR, and the most significant changes were found with genes related to antioxidant enzymes. Genes involved in mitotic inhibition and apoptotic regulations were also found to be up-regulated.
CONCLUSIONS:
Pomiferin is therefore a good anticancer candidate agent that may be useful either alone or in combination with other therapeutic agents and, because of its selectivity toward tumor cells, likely to have fewer side effects that classic chemotherapy drugs.

Interdiscip Toxicol. 2010 Jun;3(2):76-81.

Effect of pomiferin administration on kidney ischaemia-reperfusion injury in rats.[Pubmed: 21217877 ]

The aim of the study was to analyse protective effects of different doses of Pomiferin in therapy of reperfusion injury.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
Rats were randomly divided into five groups (n=10). One group was intact. Three medicated groups and one placebo group were subjected to ischaemia and reperfusion of the left kidney. Pomiferin was administrated by single gastric gavage in 2 ml of 0.5% Avicel solution in doses of 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg. The placebo group was given only Avicel solution. On day 15, all the animals were exsanguinated and the reperfused kidneys were recovered. Selected biochemical markers were assessed in blood: antioxidative enzymes, total antioxidative capacity, malondialdehyde, creatinine, urea and uric acid. Creatinine, urea and total proteins were analysed in urine and 24-hour diuresis was recorded. The kidney tissue samples were used for histopathological examination.
CONCLUSIONS:
The results confirmed the expected protective effects of Pomiferin. Pomiferin supported defensive reactions of the body against free radicals (increased levels of superoxide dismutase, total antioxidative capacity), decreased lipid peroxidation (decreased malondialdehyde) and contributed to the recovery of kidney functions (creatinine and urea in blood). The best biochemical and histopathological results were achieved after Pomiferin administration in the dose of 5 mg/kg.

Arch Physiol Biochem. 2017 Oct;123(4):219-224.

Natural product inhibitors of carbonic anhydrase I and II isoenzymes: osajin and pomiferin.[Pubmed: 28338341]

The aim of this study is to purify carbonic anhydrase I and II isoenzymes from human erythrocyte, isolate two natural products osajin (OSJ) and Pomiferin (PMF) from Maclura pomifera fruits, and evaluate the in vitro effect of these natural metabolites on these isoenzymes.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
These natural products may be used as starting points for drug discovery (like drugs used in several therapeutic applications, including antiglaucoma activity). For the purification procedure, the Sepharose-4B-l-tyrosine-sulphonamide affinity chromatography was used. Column chromatography and thin layer chromatography methods were used for isolation of OSJ and PMF from M. pomifera fruits and their chemical structures were elucidated by IR, 1D, and 2D NMR methods.
CONCLUSIONS:
We compared inhibitory effects of these natural products with inhibitory effects of phenolic compounds and found that these products demonstrated average inhibition effects. We thought that this study will give inspiration to scientists interested in this issue.

Nat Prod Res. 2017 Sep;31(17):1988-1994.

Isoflavones from Maclura pomifera: structural elucidation and in silico evaluation of their interaction with PDE5.[Pubmed: 28025893]

While osajin and Pomiferin are known for their anticancer, antibacterial and antidiabetic properties, scandenone and auriculasin have been proposed as anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive agents. Curiously, these two couples of molecules are, from a chemical point of view, structural isomers which can all be extracted from Maclura pomifera.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
Although previous works described, separately, the isolation in reasonable amounts of the sole osajin/Pomiferin couple or of scandenone/auriculasin, we report the extraction and characterization using direct spectral and chromatographical comparison of the four compounds. 2D NMR allowed to unambiguously assign the correct structures to the isomers.
CONCLUSIONS:
The compounds were screened in silico against PDE5 and their interaction pattern with the protein was compared with that of icarisid II, a natural PDE5 inhibitor.