Bioactive interruptins A and B from Cyclosorus terminans: antibacterial, anticancer, stem cell proliferation and ROS scavenging activities

Abstract

The fern Cyclosorus terminans has long been consumed as a vegetable in northern Thailand. Nevertheless there has been no definitive investigation on its biological properties. Here we have isolated three coumarin derivatives, interruptins A, B and C from C. terminans. Interruptin A exhibited antibacterial activity against four Gram-positive bacteria including methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), S. epidermidis and Bacillus subtilis with MIC values as low as 2 mg/ml. Interruptins A and B inhibited the growth of MCF-7 human breast and HT-29 human colon cancer cells with IC50 values as low as 0.13 ng/ml yet stimulated proliferation of normal ASC stem cells with no signs of toxicity. Moreover, both interruptins A and B showed a powerful capacity for scavenging intracellular ROS and performed an anti-apoptotic effect against extracellular oxidative damage by H2O2 . As a result, it is suggested that this lower plant could find a use in natural diets for treatment of infection with a special reference to MRSA, controlling breast and colon cancers, and reducing oxidative stress induced by ROS.

Keywords

• interruptins A-C
• Cyclosorus terminans
• antibacterial
• anticancer
• stem cell proliferation
• ROS scavenging