Homoisoflavonoids from the Asparagaceae family for use against ocular angiogenesis

Natural products chemistry involves the extraction of potentially active compounds from plants. A class of these active compounds is called homoisoflavonoids and they are frequently extracted from the Asparagaceae family. They are regarded as hopeful pharmacological candidates due to their anti- inflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidant effects. Due to their antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity, these plants are often used in traditional medicine. In addition, homoisoflavonoids have been shown to exhibit antiangiogenic activity, reducing the excessive formation of blood vessels. Several homoisoflavonoids have been investigated as prospective treatments for various major causes of blindness: proliferative diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity and wet age-related macular degeneration. These are all characterised by abnormal blood vessel growth at the back of the eye. As homoisoflavonoids are small molecules, they have potential for delivery as eye drops.

Homoisoflavonoids extracted from various plants in the Asparagaceae family, and synthesised homoisoflavonoids, have been screened for antiangiogenic activity. More recently, homoisoflavonoids extracted from Eucomis bicolor, Eucomis autumnalis and Scilla peruviana were screened and it has been determined that there are important structure-activity relationships. Notably, the presence and position of methoxy groups, the presence of the 3,9-double bond and the configuration at the chiral centre (C-3) are all important in the activity of the compound. [Fig. 1] shows a compound with antiangiogenic activity extracted from Eucomis autumnalis, with a GI₅₀ value of 0.67 μM.

Fig. 1 Homoisoflavonoid from Scilla peruviana (left) and homoisoflavonoid with anti-angiogenic activity from Eucomis autumnalis (right).

From this screening, targeted synthesis and further extractions from plants in the Scilla genus have taken place, in order to increase our library of compounds for screening.

 

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Publication History

Article published online:
16 November 2023