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The combination of unique structure and potent bioactivity exhibited by several family members of the caged Garcinia xanthones, led us to evaluate their pharmacophore. We have developed a Pd(0)-catalyzed method for the reverse prenylation of catechols that, together with a Claisen/ Diels-Alder reaction cascade, provides rapid and efficient access to various caged analogues. Evaluation of the growth inhibitory activity of these compounds leads to the conclusion that the intact ABC ring system containing the C-ring caged structure is essential to the bioactivity. Studies with cluvenone (7) also showed that these compounds induce apoptosis and exhibit significant cytotoxicity in multidrug-resistant leukemia cells. As such, the caged Garcinia xanthone motif represents a new and potent pharmacophore.

Natural products have been a great source of many small molecule drugs for various diseases. In spite of recent advances in biochemical engineering and fermentation technologies that allow us to explore microorganisms and the marine environment as alternative sources of drugs, more than 70% of the current small molecule therapeutics derive their structures from plants used in traditional medicine. Natural-product-based drug discovery relies heavily on advances made in the sciences of biology and chemistry. Whereas biology aims to investigate the mode of action of a natural product, chemistry aims to overcome challenges related to its supply, bioactivity, and target selectivity. This review summarizes the explorations of the caged Garcinia xanthones, a family of plant metabolites that possess a unique chemical structure, potent bioactivities, and a promising pharmacology for drug design and development.

Dengue virus infection is a global threat for which no specific treatment has not been established. Previous reports suggested chrysin and flavanone derivatives were potential flaviviral inhibitors. Here, we reported two halogenated chrysins, abbreviated FV13 and FV14, were highly potent against DENV1-4 and ZIKV infectivities with the FV13 EC50 values of 2.30 ± 1.04, 1.47 ± 0.86, 2.32 ± 1.46, 1.78 ± 0.72 and 1.65 ± 0.86 µM; and FV14 EC50 values of 2.30 ± 0.92, 2.19 ± 0.31, 1.02 ± 0.31, 1.29 ± 0.60 and 1.39 ± 0.11 µM, respectively. The CC50s to LLC/MK2 of FV13 and FV14 were 44.28 ± 2.90 μM, 42.51 ± 2.53 µM, respectively. Mechanism of drug action studies suggested multiple targets but maximal efficiency was achieved with early post infection treatment. This is the first report showing a high potency of halogenated chrysins for development as a broad-spectrum anti-flaviviral drug.

A catalytic and stereoselective glycosylation of various glycosyl acceptors, such as methyl glycosides, thioglycosides, or a disarmed glycosyl fluoride, with benzyl-protected armed glycosyl fluoride was successfully carried out by using various protic acids in the presence of MS 5A. In the cases when trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TfOH) or perchloric acid (HClO4) was used in diethyl ether (Et2O), α-glycosides were obtained as major products, while β-stereoselectivity was observed when tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)boric acid [HB(C6F5)4] was used in a mixed solvent of trifluoromethylbenzene (BTF)–pivalonitrile (tBuCN) = 5 : 1. Stereoselectivity of this glycosylation was controlled by the properties of counter anions of the catalyst as well as by those of solvents. Also, one-pot trisaccharide synthesis was performed by successive addition of NIS and third-sugar to afford Glcα or β1–6Glcβ1–6Glc and Glcα or β1–6GlcNβ1–6Glc in excellent yields.

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