Antimitotic Properties of Pterocarpans Isolated from Platymiscium floribundum on Sea Urchin Eggs

Abstract

This study reports the antimitotic effects on sea urchin eggs of five known pterocarpans: (+)-3,10-dihydroxy-9-methoxypterocarpan, (+)-3,9-dimethoxypterocarpan [(+)-homopterocarpin], (+)-2,3,9-trimethoxypterocarpan, (+)-3,4-dihydroxy-9-methoxypterocarpan [(+)-vesticarpan] and (+)-3-hydroxy-9-methoxypterocarpan [(+)-medicarpin], isolated from the trunk of Platymiscium floribundum, a native tree from Brazil. All tested compounds showed strong activity in this assay, with 2,3,9-trimethoxypterocarpan being the most active (log IC₅₀ of -8.10 ± 0.02; -7.91 ± 0.01; -7.97 ± 0.02 M for first and third cleavages, and blastulae stages, respectively). These data suggest that the 2-methoxy substituent can be an important pharmacophoric unit.

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