Sireewan Kaewsuwan, Supreeya Yuenyongsawad, Anuchit Plubrukarn, Arpaporn Kaewchoothong, Achara Raksawong, Panupong Puttarak and Chucheep Apirug

pp. 309 - 317

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 μg/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