Isolation and Characterization of Two Chalcone Derivatives with Anti-Hepatitis B Virus Activity from the Endemic Socotraen Dracaena cinnabari (Dragon’s Blood Tree)

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is prevalent and continues to be a global health concern. In this study, we determined the anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) potential of the Socotra-endemic medicinal plant Dracaena cinnabari and isolated and characterized the responsible constituents. A bioassay-guided fractionation using different chromatographic techniques of the methanolic extract of D. cinnabari led to the isolation of two chalcone derivatives. Using a variety of spectroscopic techniques, including 1H-, 13C-, and 2D-NMR, these derivatives were identified as 2,4’-dihydroxy-4-methoxydihydrochalcone (compound 1) and 2,4’-dihydroxy-4-methoxyhydrochalcone (compound 2). Both compounds were isolated for the first time from the red resin (dragon’s blood) of D. cinnabari. The compounds were first evaluated for cytotoxicity on HepG2.2.15 cells and 50% cytotoxicity concentration (CC50) values were determined. They were then evaluated for anti-HBV activity against HepG2.2.15 cells by assessing the suppression of HBsAg and HBeAg production in the culture supernatants and their half maximum inhibitory concentration (IC50) and therapeutic index (TI) values were determined. Compounds 1 and 2 indicated inhibition of HBsAg production in a dose- and time-dependent manner with IC50 values of 20.56 and 6.36 μg/mL, respectively.

Green Alternatives in Treatment of Liver Diseases: the Challenges of Traditional Medicine and Green Nanomedicine

“…In addition, HBV replication was decreased by 26.7 % and 38.2 % three days post‐treatment. An antiretroviral drug, Lamivuidine, was used as a control, which inhibited only 30.7 %, demonstrating the activity of D. cinnabari compounds [26] …”

“…An antiretroviral drug, Lamivuidine, was used as a control, which inhibited only 30.7 %, demonstrating the activity of D. cinnabari compounds. [26] The fractions and subfractions obtained from the dichloromethane extract of Artocarpus heterophyllus leaves were studied in human hepatoma-derived cells (Huh7it-1); its fraction FR3T3 showed high antiviral activity with an IC 50 less than 10 μg/mL and low cytotoxic activity. The activity is predominantly in the post-entry stage of the cell by reducing NS3 protein expression and RNA replication.…”

Synthesis and Pharmacological Activities of Chalcone and Its Derivatives Bearing N-Heterocyclic Scaffolds: A Review

“…Chalcone and its derivatives are the cores of various biologically interesting compounds, and frequently they have been isolated from different medicinal plants such as Dracaena cinnabari , Medicago sativa , and Angelica keiskei (Figure ). − …”