Osthole: A Review on Its Bioactivities, Pharmacological Properties, and Potential as Alternative Medicine

Abstract

This paper reviews the latest understanding of biological and pharmacological properties of osthole (7-methoxy-8-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one), a natural product found in several medicinal plants such as Cnidium monnieri and Angelica pubescens. In vitro and in vivo experimental results have revealed that osthole demonstrates multiple pharmacological actions including neuroprotective, osteogenic, immunomodulatory, anticancer, hepatoprotective, cardiovascular protective, and antimicrobial activities. In addition, pharmacokinetic studies showed osthole uptake and utilization are fast and efficient in body. Moreover, the mechanisms of multiple pharmacological activities of osthole are very likely related to the modulatory effect on cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cGMP) level, though some mechanisms remain unclear. This review aims to summarize the pharmacological properties of osthole and give an overview of the underlying mechanisms, which showcase its potential as a multitarget alternative medicine.

Potent In Vitro Synergism of Fluconazole and Osthole against Fluconazole-Resistant Candida albicans

“…Hence, we speculated that osthole should be the major bioactive component of C. fructus against C. albicans. Modern research has indicated that osthole exhibits significant antimicrobial activity against bacteria, viruses, and some plantpathogenic fungi (15). We revealed in the present study the anti-Candida effects of osthole, which expand its antimicrobial spectrum.…”

Ketohexokinase C blockade ameliorates fructose-induced metabolic dysfunction in fructose-sensitive mice

“…Furthermore, monitoring other serum metabolites 90 minutes after acute fructose challenge showed that osthole-treated mice had reduced transaminitis, hyperuricemia, and hypermagnesemia ( Figure 6, F-I). However, it is important to note that osthole is not specifically a fructokinase inhibitor and therefore the beneficial effects of fructokinase may be related to multiple off-target effects (39). Nevertheless, our study suggests that the prophylactic pharmacological inhibition of Khk is therapeutically effective in prevention of acute pathology in this animal model for HFI.…”

Chemical Characterization of 64 Propolis Samples from Hakkari, Turkey

“…In a study on the botanical origins of the Hakkari propolis samples, Bayram (2015) [38] reported that 71 plant taxa belonging to 34 families were determined to be present at different ratios in the propolis samples and the pollens of the plants belonging to the families of Apiaceae (2.7%-35%), Asteraceae (3.4%-35.4%) and Fabaceae (12%-66%). It has been reported that coumarins angelicin [39,40], bergapten [39,41,42], bergaptol [43,44], columbianetin [43], decursin [45], jatamansin [46], lomatin [47,48] methoxsalen [49], oroselone [50], osthole [51], oxypeucedanin [52,53,54], prangenin [55], psoralen [40,43], seselin [56], suberosin [57,58], xanthotoxol [59,60], 2-isopropenyl-2,3-dihydrofuro[3,2-g]chromen-7-one [61], 3-methyl-but-2-enoic acid, 2,2-dimethyl-8-oxo-3,4-dihydro-2H,8H-pyrano[3,2-g]chromen-3-yl ester [62], and 4-(3-methyl-2-oxobutoxy)-7H-furo[3,2-g][1]benzopyran-7-one (isooxypeucedanin) [63] are found in the chemical composition of different plants belonging to the Apiaceae family. Similarly, psoralen, angelicin [64], bergapten [65], and seselin [66] have been reported to be present in the Fabaceae family plants.…”