Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências (Dec 2014)

Biflorin: an o-naphthoquinone of clinical significance

  • GABRIELLE G.N.S. WISINTAINER,
  • EVELYNE R.B. SIMÕES,
  • TELMA L.G. LEMOS,
  • SIDNEI MOURA,
  • LUCIANA G.S. SOUZA,
  • ALUISIO M. FONSECA,
  • MANOEL ODORICO MORAES,
  • CLAUDIA PESSOA,
  • MARIANA ROESCH-ELY,
  • JOÃO A.P. HENRIQUES

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765201420140085
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 86, no. 4
pp. 1907 – 1914

Abstract

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Biflorin is an o-naphthoquinone with proven cytotoxic effects on tumor cells showing antimicrobial, antitumor and antimutagenic activities. Biflorin is an isolated compound taken from the roots of the plant Capraria biflora L. (Schrophulariaceae), indigenous of the West Indies and South America, which is located in temperate or tropical areas. This compound has shown to be strongly active against grampositive and alcohol-acid-resistant bacteria. It has been efficient in inhibiting the proliferation tumor cell lines CEM, HL-60, B16, HCT-8 and MCF-7. Recently, SK-Br3 cell line was treated with biflorin showing important cytotoxic effects. In this article, information related to the first structural characterization studies are presented, as well as the latest reports concerning the biological activity of this molecule.

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