Methoxyfuranocoumarins of Natural Origin–Updating Biological Activity Research and Searching for New Directions—A Review

Abstract

Plant secondary metabolites, including furanocoumarins, have attracted attention for decades as active molecules with therapeutic potential, especially those occurring in a limited number of species as evolutionarily specific and chemotaxonomically important. The most famous methoxyfuranocoumarins (MFCs), bergapten, xanthotoxin, isopimpinellin, phellopterin, byakangelicol, byakangelicin, isobergapten, pimpinellin, sphondin, as well as rare ones such as peucedanin and 8-methoxypeucedanin, apaensin, cnidilin, moellendorffiline and dahuribiethrins, have recently been investigated for their various biological activities. The α-glucosidase inhibitory activity and antioxidant potential of moellendorffiline, the antiproliferative and proapoptotic properties of non-UV-activated bergapten and xanthotoxin, the effect of MFC on the activity of tyrosinase, acetyl- and butylcholinesterase, and the role of these compounds as adjuvants in anticancer and antibacterial tests have been confirmed. The anticonvulsant effects of halfordin, the antidepressant effects of xanthotoxin, and the antiadipogenic, neuroprotective, anti-amyloid-β, and anti-inflammatory (via increasing SIRT 1 protein expression) properties of phellopterin, as well as the activity of sphondin against hepatitis B virus, have also attracted interest. It is worth paying attention to the agonistic effect of xanthotoxin on bitter taste receptors (TAS2Rs) on cardiomyocytes, which may be important in the future treatment of tachycardia, as well as the significant anti-inflammatory activity of dahuribiethrins. It should be emphasized that MFCs, although in many cases isolated for the first time many years ago, are still of great interest as bioactive molecules. The aim of this review is to highlight key recent developments in the study of the diverse biological activities of MFCs and attempt to highlight promising directions for their further research. Where possible, descriptions of the mechanisms of action of MFC are provided, which is related to the constantly discovered therapeutic potential of these molecules. The review covers the results of experiments from the last ten years (2014–2023) conducted on isolated natural cMFCs and includes the activity of molecules that have not been activated by UV rays.

Quantitative Analysis of Isopimpinellin from Ammi majus L. Fruits and Evaluation of Its Biological Effect on Selected Human Tumor Cells

“…In recent years, a number of biological activities of furanocoumarins (including xanthotoxin, bergapten, bergaptol, angelicin, bergamottin, and imperatorin) have been confirmed, indicating their suppressor potential in relation to various models of cancer cells [ 60 , 61 ]. Also, the recently presented results of research conducted in our group provided evidence for the antiproliferative, antimigratory, and proapoptotic effects of xanthotoxin and bergapten (not activated by UV radiation), depending on the concentration of these compounds and the type of cancer cells [ 29 , 30 ].…”

An Overview of Some Herbal Antidepressant Plants

“…These substances' pharmacodynamics involve mechanisms that are comparable to those of synthetic antidepressants. But unlike synthetic antidepressants, herbal remedies' anti-inflammatory properties also play a significant role in their antidepressant effects [79][80][81].…”