The journey of developing a medicine begins long before it reaches the body or encounters drug resistance. Initially, researchers identify a promising molecule. At Macau University of Science and Technology, scientists isolated a uniquely structured bi-magnolignan from Magnolia officinalis leaves, a plant known for compounds like honokiol. Unlike honokiol, this new molecule features a distinct dibenzofuran-based structure. The patent suggests that this larger, differently shaped molecule could interact with different targets and have useful physicochemical properties. After extraction and purification, the team confirmed the structure through mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. They tested it on different cancer cell lines. Among nine types, including colon, breast, brain, muscle, and blood cancers, the compound’s IC50 values ranged from 0.4 to 7.5 μM after 48 hours. Conversely, two normal cell models exhibited less inhibition, with IC50s of 17.9 and 19.3 μM. Additionally, tests on HCT116 colon cancer cells showed reduced colony formation and increased programmed cell death at higher concentrations. These findings come from lab experiments and do not demonstrate clinical effectiveness. Still, they mark a crucial early step in drug development: identifying a promising candidate for further study.
From magnolia leaves to a new anticancer candidate
Patent number: CN 115466237 B
Inventor(s): W. Ma et al.
Citation: W. Ma et al., “一种联二厚朴脂素及其制备方法和应用 [A bi-magnolignan and its preparation method and application],” China Patent CN 115466237 B, Apr. 2, 2024.
