In vitro chemopreventive potential of fucophlorethols from the brown alga Fucus vesiculosus L. by anti-oxidant activity and inhibition of selected cytochrome P450 enzymes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/j.phytochem.2009.10.020

Within a project focusing on the chemopreventive potential of algal phenols, two phloroglucinol derivatives, belonging to the class of fucophlorethols, and the known fucotriphlorethol A were obtained from the ethanolic extract of the brown alga Fucus vesiculosus L. The compounds trifucodiphlorethol A and trifucotriphlorethol A are composed of six and seven units of phloroglucinol, respectively. The compounds were examined for their cancer chemopreventive potential, in comparison with the monomer phloroglucinol. Trifucodiphlorethol A, trifucotriphlorethol A as well as fucotriphlorethol A were identified as strong radical scavengers, with IC₅₀ values for scavenging of 1,1-diphenyl-2 picrylhydrazyl radicals (DPPH) in the range of 10.0-14.4 μg/ml. All three compounds potently scavenged peroxyl radicals in the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay. In addition, the compounds were shown to inhibit cytochrome P450 1A activity with IC₅₀ values in the range of 17.9-33 μg/ml, and aromatase (Cyp19) activity with IC₅₀ values in the range of 1.2-5.6 μg/ml.

Full text of DOI:10.1016/j.phytochem.2009.10.020

Phytochemistry 71 (2010) 221–229
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Phytochemistry
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/phytochem
In vitro chemopreventive potential of fucophlorethols from the brown alga Fucus
vesiculosus L. by anti-oxidant activity and inhibition of selected cytochrome
P450 enzymes
Sabine Parys a, Stefan Kehraus a, Anja Krick a, Karl-Werner Glombitza a, Shmuel Carmeli b, Karin Klimo c,
Clarissa Gerhäuser c, Gabriele M. König a,
*
a Institute for Pharmaceutical Biology, University of Bonn, Nussallee 6, D-53115 Bonn, Germany
b School of Chemistry, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel
c Division of Epigenomics and Cancer Risk Factors, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
a r t i c l e i n f o
a b s t r a c t
Article history:
Within a project focusing on the chemopreventive potential of algal phenols, two phloroglucinol deriva-
tives, belonging to the class of fucophlorethols, and the known fucotriphlorethol A were obtained from
the ethanolic extract of the brown alga Fucus vesiculosus L. The compounds trifucodiphlorethol A and trif-
ucotriphlorethol A are composed of six and seven units of phloroglucinol, respectively.
Received 22 September 2009
Received in revised form 22 October 2009
Available online 1 December 2009
The compounds were examined for their cancer chemopreventive potential, in comparison with the
monomer phloroglucinol. Trifucodiphlorethol A, trifucotriphlorethol A as well as fucotriphlorethol A
were identified as strong radical scavengers, with IC50 values for scavenging of 1,1-diphenyl-2 pic-
Keywords:
Fucus vesiculosus
Fucaceae
Fucophlorethols
Phlorotannin
Anti-oxidant
Radical-scavenging
Phloroglucinol
Cytochrome P450 (Cyp)
Aromatase
rylhydrazyl radicals (DPPH) in the range of 10.0–14.4
peroxyl radicals in the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay. In addition, the compounds
were shown to inhibit cytochrome P450 1A activity with IC50 values in the range of 17.9–33 g/ml,
and aromatase (Cyp19) activity with IC50 values in the range of 1.2–5.6 g/ml.
lg/ml. All three compounds potently scavenged
l
l
Ó 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Chemoprevention
1. Introduction
Nrf2-mediated enzyme induction (Kang et al., 2007) have been
associated with cancer chemopreventive potential. To explore the
therapeutic potential of phlorotannins in detail pure compounds
were isolated during the current study from the extract of Fucus
vesiculosus L.
Cancer chemoprevention describes the use of nutrients and/or
pharmaceutics to block, inhibit, or reverse tumor development at
various steps during the initiation, promotion, or progression
phase of carcinogenesis (Surh, 2003). To identify novel chemopre-
ventive agents, we have established a series of in vitro test systems
which cover a broad spectrum of mechanisms relevant for the pre-
vention of cancer in humans, including radical scavenging effects
and anti-oxidant mechanisms, the modulation of phase 1 and 2
drug metabolism, anti-hormonal properties, anti-inflammatory
activities, and anti-proliferative mechanisms (Gerhäuser et al.,
2003). Several of the reported biological activities of algal phenols,
such as anti-oxidant potential (Shin et al., 2006; Chkhikvishvili and
Ramazanov, 2000; Jimenez-Escrig et al., 2001; Kang et al., 2003,
2005; Kim et al., 2004; Cerantola et al., 2006), anti-inflammatory
activity (Shin et al., 2006; Shibata et al., 2003), and activation of
The brown alga F. vesiculosus is a member of the family Fuca-
ceae, belonging to the order Fucales. It grows in the rocky mid-lit-
toral and intertidal temperate coasts of Europe and North America
(Lüning, 1985). Brown algae of the order Fucales contain three
types of phlorotannins, all merely consisting of phloroglucinol sub-
units. Depending on the type of connection between the subunits
these phlorotannins are termed fucols, where phloroglucinol units
are connected by aryl-aryl bonds, fucophlorethols with ether and
aryl–aryl bonds (Fig. 2) and phlorethols with only ether bonds
present. From F. vesiculosus 15 fucophlorethols and four fucols with
three to eight and two to four units of phloroglucinol, respectively,
were described (Ragan and Glombitza, 1986). During most of these
studies extracts were derivatized and the compounds subse-
quently isolated in their acetylated form (Glombitza et al., 1975,
1977; Preuss, 1983). The isolation of the free phenols is due to their
instability a challenging task and was reported from F. vesiculosus
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +49 228 73 3747; fax: +49 228 73 3250.
E-mail address: g.koenig@uni-bonn.de (G.M. König).
0031-9422/$ - see front matter Ó 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2009.10.020

222
S. Parys et al. / Phytochemistry 71 (2010) 221–229
OH
39
40
VII
38
37
41
HO
HO
19
20
IV
21
23
42
22
O
OH
O
OH
15
16
III
33
34
VI
24
14
9
32
17
35
HO
OH HO
HO
HO
31
36
OH HO
13
10
18
3
5
8
2
6
3
8
9
2
OH
OH
1
4
7
1
7
10
4
HO
II
OH
I
I
II
HO
OH
OH
15
OH
12
11
18
6
5
12 11
18
13 14
III
14
13
OH HO
OH HO
HO
HO
III
15
HO
HO
25
20
IV
21
23
26 27
17
16
17
16
22
28
O
OH
V
O
O
OH
19
19 20
IV
1
2
30
HO
24
29
HO
24
21
HO
23
22
27
29
OH
28
OH HO
HO
HO
HO
8
9
2
6
3
14 15
III
20 21
IV
26
1
4
7
10
13
16
19
22
25
I
V
HO
II
O
O
O
OH
11
17
23
30
5
12
18
24
OH HO
HO
HO
HO
3
Fig. 1. Structures of compounds 1–3.
OH HO
OH HO
HO
HO
HO
OH
OH HO
HO
O
OH
OH HO
HO
OH
OH HO
Tetrafucol A
Fucophlorethol A
OH HO
Fig. 2. Phlorotannins of F. vesiculosus.
only once (Craigie et al., 1977). Furthermore, cleavage products of
high molecular weight phenols in F. vesiculosus were isolated and
analyzed (Glombitza and Lentz, 1981).
Phlorotannins have been shown to be of ecological importance.
They protect the producing organism against UV irradiation (Pavia
et al., 1997; Swanson and Druehl, 2002), deter herbivores (Ragan
and Glombitza, 1986; Pavia et al., 1997; Boettcher and Targett,
1993; Schoenwaelder, 2002) and act against pathogens (Ragan
and Glombitza, 1986). Several pharmacological activities have
been reported for this class of compounds including enzyme inhi-
bition, anti-oxidative activities and antibacterial effects (Shin et al.,
2006; Chkhikvishvili and Ramazanov, 2000; Jimenez-Escrig et al.,
2001; Kang et al., 2003, 2005; Kim et al., 2004; Linares et al.,
2004; Shibata et al., 2003; Nagayama et al., 2002). Sandsdalen
et al. (2003) determined the antibacterial effects of compounds iso-
lated from an extract of F. vesiculosus. One of these antibacterial
compounds, i.e. fucodiphlorethol A is composed of four units of
phloroglucinol and belongs to the class of fucophlorethols.

S. Parys et al. / Phytochemistry 71 (2010) 221–229
223
Table 2
However, in general the ecological as well as pharmacological
NMR spectral data for compound 2.
activities of F. vesiculosus were estimated employing crude extracts
or fractions (Geiselman and McConnell, 1981; Cerantola et al.,
2006; Collen and Davison, 1999).
Ring Carbon 13Ca,c,d(d in 1Hb (d in ppm, int., 1H–1H-
HMBCa,e
1, 3/5, 4
ppm)
mult., J in Hz)
COSYa,d
RP-HPLC separations of the bioactive ethanolic extract of F. ves-
iculosus yielded three phlorotannins (Fig. 1), whose structures were
elucidated mainly based on NMR spectra, and identified as trifuco-
diphlorethol A (1), trifucotriphlorethol A (2) as well as the known
fucotriphlorethol A (3) (Glombitza et al., 1977; Rauwald, 1976).
The latter compound was to date only described in its acetylated
form. The purified compounds were tested, in comparison to the
monomer phloroglucinol, in the above mentioned test system to
investigate their chemopreventive potential.
I
1
160.0 (C)
95.8 (CH)
158.7 (C)
99.9 (C)
99.4 (C)
158.4 (C)
99.4 (C)
2/6
3/5
4
6.02, 2H, s
II
7
8/12
9/11
10
158.0 (C)
101.1 (C)
158.3 (C)
95.8 (CH)
162.2 (C)
125.4 (C)
154.0 (C)f
94.9 (CH)
156.2 (C)f
97.9 (CH)
152.5 (C)f
124.7 (C)
152.2 (C)
96.3 (CH)
156.4 (C)
101.4 (C)
158.8 (C)
95.4 (CH)
162.1 (C)
124.8 (C)
152.3 (C)
96.2 (CH)
156.3 (C)
III
IV
13
14/18
15/17
16
19
20
21
22
23
24
6.25, 2H, s
2. Results and discussion
5.80, 1H, d, 2.5
6.11, 1H, d, 2.5
H-23
H-21
20
After the extraction of frozen algal material of F. vesiculosus with
ethanol, the lipophilic compounds were removed from the aqueous
phase by liquid–liquid partitioning. Preparative HPLC of the hydro-
philic extract yielded 10 fractions, of which fraction 4 was chosen
for further detailed chemical investigation due to its pronounced
radical scavenging activity in the DPPH assay, with a halfmaximal
19, 22, 24
V
25
26/30
27/29
28
5.95, 2H, s
6.11, 2H, s
5.99, 2H, s
25, 26/30, 28
31, 32/36, 34
37, 38/42, 40
VI
VII
31
scavenging concentration of 11.0 1.1 lg/ml (data not shown).
32/36
33/35
34
From the bioactive fraction 4, two new (1, 2) and one known com-
pounds (3) were isolated (Fig. 1S-A Supplementary data) and eval-
uated for their chemopreventive effects.
37
38/42
39/41
40
HPLC-DAD separation of fraction 4 resulted in six sub-fractions
(Fig. 1S-B, Supplementary data), of which three were pure com-
pounds (1–3). Compounds 1, 2, and 3 all had UV adsorption spectra
characteristic for phenolic compounds. Further characterization of
compounds 1–3 was done using 1H and 13C NMR, DEPT 135, COSY,
HSQC and HMBC spectra. The chemical shifts observed in 1H and
13C NMR experiments confirmed the polyphenolic structures as
phlorotannins (Tables 1, 2 and 3), since resonance signals were
in the range of dH 5.8–6.3 and dC 95–163, respectively. The quater-
nary carbons have characteristic resonances depending on the type
of bonding, i.e. they are either involved in direct carbon–carbon
bonding between phloroglucinol units, in ether-linked phloroglu-
cinol units, or are attached to hydroxyl groups, as shown exempl-
arily for compound 3 (Fig. 3). Hence, compounds 1–3 were
determined to be fucophlorethols. Calculated spectra for fucoph-
MeOD, 75 MHz for 13C NMR.
MeOD, 500 MHz for 1H NMR.
a
b
c
Assignments are based on extensive 1D and 2D NMR measurements (HMBC,
HSQC, and COSY).
d
Implied multiplicities by DEPT.
Numbers refer to carbon resonances.
Resonances interchangeable.
e
f
lorethols using ACD software (ACD/Chem Sketch; ACD/Labs re-
lease: 9.00; Product Version: 9.08) confirmed this estimation. LC–
ESI-MS analyses of compounds 1–3 indicated fucophlorethols with
five to seven units of phloroglucinol.
Positive and negative ESI-MS measurements showed the
pseudomolecular ion of 1 at m/z 747 [M+H]+ and at m/z 745
[MꢀH]ꢀ, respectively (Fig. 2S, Supplementary data). This indicated
a polyphenolic compound composed of six units of phloroglucinol.
After acetylation the FAB (fast atom bombardment) MS spectrum
gave pseudomolecular ions at m/z 1441 [M+Na]+ and m/z 1419
[M+H]+ (Fig. 3S, Supplementary data), indicating 16 acetyl groups.
Further, it showed an elimination series of fragments with a mass
of m/z 42 characteristic for the loss of ketene (C2H2O) which is typ-
ical for compounds with acetylated tertiary hydroxyl groups (Ra-
Table 1
NMR spectral data for compound 1.
Ring
Carbon
13Ca,b,c(d in
ppm)
1Ha (d in ppm, int., mult., J
in Hz)
HMBCa,d
1, 3/5, 4
I
1
160.1 (C)
95.8 (CH)
158.4 (C)
99.7 (C)
99.4 (C)
158.3 (C)
99.4 (C)
158.1 (C)
101.2 (C)
158.7 (C)
95.4 (CH)
2/6
3/5
4
6.03, 2H, s
II
7
gan and Glombitza, 1986).
A
series of 11 consecutive
8/12
9/11
10
13
14/18
15/17
eliminations was determined originating from the pseudomolecu-
lar ion at m/z 1419 ( ? 957). Furthermore, three fragments re-
sulted from loss of water (m/z 1167 ? 1149, m/z 1041 ? 1023,
m/z 957 ? 939). Such fragments are generated in molecules con-
taining biphenyl moieties with ortho, ortho0-hydroxyl groups (rings
I, II, and III) (Ragan and Glombitza, 1986; Glombitza et al., 1975).
Therefore, the elimination of three times water indicated three car-
bon–carbon linkages between phenyl rings.
III
6.11, 4H, s
6.01, 4H, s
9/11, 13, 14/
18, 16
16
19
20/24
21/23
22
162.1 (C)
124.8 (C)
152.3 (C)
96.3 (CH)
156.3 (C)
IV
19, 20/24, 22
The 1H NMR spectrum (Table 1) recorded in deuterated metha-
nol (MeOD) contained two singlet resonances at d 6.01 and d 6.11,
each showing twice the intensity when compared to the third sin-
glet signal at d 6.03. Couplings between the aromatic protons were
lacking indicating a symmetrical substitution and two magneti-
cally equivalent protons on ring I, III, and IV. The 13C NMR spec-
a
MeOD, 300 MHz for 1H NMR and 75 MHz for 13C NMR.
Assignments are based on extensive 1D and 2D NMR measurements (HMBC,
b
HSQC).
c
Implied multiplicities by DEPT.
Numbers refer to carbon resonances.
d

224
S. Parys et al. / Phytochemistry 71 (2010) 221–229
Table 3
displayed carbon resonances for two ether bonds (C-19, d 124.8)
NMR spectral data for fucotriphlorethol A (3).
and for three aryl–aryl bonds (C-9/C-11, d 99.4; C-7, d 99.4; C-4,
d 99.7; C-13, d 101.2). HMBC correlations between H-15/H-17
and C-13 and C-9/11 led to the aryl-aryl linkage between rings II
and III. A further aryl-aryl bond was deduced to be between C-4
(d 99.7) and C-7 (d 99.4) based on the symmetry within the mole-
cule. The connection of rings III and IV was also established for
symmetry reasons and based on the chemical shifts of C-19 (d
124.8) and C-16 (d 162.1), which are characteristic for an ether
bond (Table 1). After acetylation 1H and 13C NMR spectra of com-
pound 1 were measured in CDCl3 and acetone-d6 (Table 3S). 13C
NMR shifts were compared with shifts calculated with increments
developed by Forster (1979) and Wegner-Hambloch (1983) and
found to be close to identical. For compound 1 the name trifuco-
diphlorethol A is proposed.
Ring
Carbon
13Ca,b,c (d in ppm)
1Ha (d in ppm, int.,
mult., J in Hz)
HMBCa,d
1, 3/5, 4
I
1
161.3 (C)
96.0 (CH)
158.6 (C)
102.1 (C)
100.5 (C)
158.2 (C)
96.2 (CH)
159.5 (C)
126.1 (C)
152.2 (C)
95.5 (CH)
157.8 (C)
126.1 (C)
152.3 (C)
96.0 (CH)
158.0 (C)
124.9 (C)
152.5 (C)
96.2 (CH)
156.3 (C)
2/6
3/5
4
6.11, 2H, s
II
7
8/12
9/11
10
6.01, 2H, s
6.11, 2H, s
6.09, 2H, s
5.99, 2H, s
4f, 7, 8/12, 10
13, 14/18,16
19, 20/24, 22
25, 26/30, 28
IIIe
IVe
V
13
14/18
15/17
16
19
20/24
21/23
22
The structure elucidation of compound 2 was mainly based on
mass spectrometric measurements. Positive and negative ESI-MS
spectra of 2 (Fig. 4S, Supplementary data) revealed pseudomolecu-
lar ions at m/z 871 [M+H]+ and 869 [MꢀH]ꢀ, respectively, pointing
to a polyphenolic compound consisting of seven units of phloroglu-
cinol. After acetylation a pseudomolecular ion at m/z 1649 [M+Na]+
was found in the FAB-MS spectrum (Fig. 5S, Supplementary data),
which evidenced clearly the presence of 18 hydroxyl groups in 2.
The difference in mass between compounds 1 and 2 after acetyla-
tion was m/z 208 indicating that compound 2 is a homolog of 1, dif-
fering only by one phloroglucinol unit linked by an ether bond. A
ketene elimination series was observed between m/z 1543 and
m/z 1165, equivalent to the loss of 9 ketenes. An MS fragment at
m/z 917 was found in the FAB-MS spectrum for a tetraphenyl frag-
ment (rings I–IV), a substructure identical to the equivalent rings
(I, II, and 2 ꢁ III) in compound 1 (Fig. 6S, Supplementary data). In
addition, three MS-fragments were obtained after loss of water
indicating three aryl–aryl bonds within the molecule.
25
26/30
27/29
28
MeOD, 300 MHz for 1H NMR and 75 MHz for 13C NMR.
Assignments are based on extensive 1D and 2D NMR measurements (HMBC,
HSQC).
a
b
c
Implied multiplicities by DEPT.
d
e
f
Numbers refer to carbon resonances.
Position of rings III and IV in the molecule could be interchanged.
Weak correlation.
trum displayed 16 carbon signals between d 95.4 and d 162.1. A
DEPT experiment evidenced the signals at d 95.4, d 95.8, and d
96.3 to be methine groups, each resonance accounting for two car-
bon signals. Furthermore, 13 signals for quaternary carbon atoms
were present (Table 1), several of which had to account for more
than one carbon. Altogether, results of FAB-MS analysis and NMR
data, pointed to a phlorotannin consisting of six units of phloroglu-
cinol and having a symmetrical structure with one fully substi-
tuted aromatic moiety (ring II). 13C NMR and HMBC spectra
An 1H NMR spectrum measured in MeOD showed seven signals
including five singlet and two doublet signals. The integration of
these resonances demonstrated that the singlet signals (d 6.25, d
6.11, d 6.02, d 5.99, and 5.95) had twice the intensity of the doublet
resonances at d 5.80 and d 6.11. The latter coupled with each other
Fig. 3. 13C NMR spectrum of 3 recorded in MeOH-d4.

S. Parys et al. / Phytochemistry 71 (2010) 221–229
225
(2.5 Hz) suggesting that they are located in meta position to each
other. 13C NMR and DEPT spectra of 2 included seven resonance
signals for methine groups, five of which had an account for two
carbon atoms. Of the 22 resonance signals for quaternary carbon
atoms some had to be equivalent to more than one carbon atom
as well (Table 2). Comparison of 13C NMR data of compound 2 with
those of 1 showed that 13C NMR shifts of rings I, II, VI (in 1 ring III),
VII (in 1 ring IV) were close to identical. Together with mass spec-
tral data this secured a partial structure of 2 comprising rings I, II,
III, VI, and VII. For ring II in compound 2 it was noticed that 13C
NMR shifts of C-9 (d 99.36) and C-11 (d 99.40) differed slightly,
which is due to the non-symmetrical nature of 2. At this point of
the structure elucidation two phloroglucinol units still had to be
attached to the partial structure of 2. They had to be bonded by
ether bonds, since only five phenolic groups were left of the overall
18 hydroxyl groups. Additionally, 13C NMR shifts of C-19 (d 125.4)
and C-25 (d 124.7) pointed towards ether-linked phenyl moieties.
One of these two phloroglucinol units was ring IV including the
methylene groups CH-21 and CH-23. Due to the differing 1H and
13C NMR chemical shifts of these methylene groups ring IV had
to be substituted asymmetrically, i.e. ring IV had to be attached
to the oxygen on C-20 (or C-24). Rings III and V had to be substi-
tuted symmetrically, thus clearly positioning the C-16/C-19 and
C-20/C-25 phenoxy-bridges. As the carbon atoms of the rings V
and VII displayed similar 13C NMR chemical shifts both of these
aromatic moieties were confirmed to be the identical terminal
structural elements of 2. Compound 2 was named trifucotriphlore-
thol A.
A
100
75
50
25
0
1
10
100
100
100
Positive ESI-MS of 3 showed the pseudomolecular ion [M+H]+ at
m/z 623 (Fig. 5S-A, Supplementary data). Together with the
pseudomolecular ion in the negative ESI-MS spectrum at m/z 621
[MꢀH]ꢀ (Fig. 5S-B, Supplementary data) this pointed to a polyphe-
nol having five units of phloroglucinol. After acetylation EI-MS
measurement gave the molecular ion at m/z 1126, confirming the
above results. Furthermore, it indicated the presence of 12 acetyl
groups. MS-fragments with a mass of 42 pointed towards the elim-
ination of ketene. A series of 6 consecutive ketene eliminations can
be seen between the molecular ion m/z 1126 and the fragment ion
m/z 874. Elimination of ketene up to the molecular ion of the free
phenol (m/z 622) was not observed, since this series was over-
lapped by a second one starting at m/z 918 and ending at the frag-
ment ion at m/z 540, equivalent to the loss of 9 ketenes. These EI-
MS data were compared with those of reported values for fucot-
riphlorethol-A-dodecaacetate (Glombitza et al., 1977; Rauwald,
1976) and matched well.
Concentration [µg/ml]
B
100
75
50
25
0
1
10
Concentration [µg/ml]
The 1H NMR spectrum of 3 in MeOD contained several singlet
resonances between d 5.99 and d 6.11. Integration of these signals
revealed that the resonance at 6.11 ppm showed twice the inten-
sity compared to the other signals. Furthermore, coupling between
the aromatic protons was lacking due to the symmetrical substitu-
tion of two magnetically equivalent protons on each ring i.e. H-2/
H-6, H-9/H-11, H15/H-17, H-21/H-23, and H-27/H-29. An AB-sys-
tem was not determined and compound 3 was estimated to be a
linear phlorotannin. The 13C NMR spectrum displayed 20 reso-
nances, some of which must account for two carbon atoms (Table 3,
Fig. 3). The aromatic rings I–V were established on the basis of
HMBC correlations. For each aromatic moiety correlations between
the aromatic protons and the quaternary carbon atoms were ob-
served, e.g. for ring I correlations between H-2/H-6 and C-1, C-3/
C-5, and C-4. The position of the aryl–aryl bond of rings I and II
was identified between C-4 (d 102.1) and C-7 (d 100.5) because
of a weak HMBC correlation between H-9/H-11 (d 6.01) and C-4
(d 102.1). Comparison with published data supports this deduction
(Craigie et al., 1977). The position of moieties I and II in the struc-
ture of 3 was evident from the characteristic shifts of H-2/H-6 (d
6.11) and H-9/H-11 (d 6.01). Rings II-V had to be connected by
ether bonds because of characteristic 13C NMR shifts of C-13 (d
126.1), C-19 (d 126.1) and C-25 (d 124.9). The resonance for H-
27/29 (d 5.99) proved the terminal position of ring V in the mole-
cule. This way the precise position of the aromatic rings III and IV
could not be established. After acetylation of compound 3 1H NMR
and 13C NMR spectra were recorded in CDCl3 and acetone-d6
100
75
C
50
25
0
1
10
Concentration [µg/ml]
Fig. 4. Dose-dependent chemopreventive activities of trifucodiphlorethol A (com-
pound 1, d), trifucotriphlorethol A (compound 2, h), and fucotriphlorethol
(compound 3, .). (A) Scavenging of DPPH radicals. Vitamin C was used as a positive
control with an IC50 value of 3.6 0.31 (n = 4). (B) Inhibition of Cyp1A
enzymatic activity. Cyp1A activity was measured with b-naphthoflavone-induced
H4IIE rat hepatoma cell homogenates by dealkylation of 3-cyano-7-ethoxy-
coumarin to fluorescent 3-cyano-7-hydroxy-coumarin. Activities of b-naphthoflav-
A
lM
one-induced controls were in the range of 63–13 nmol/min/mg of protein.
a-
Naphthoflavone used as a positive control inhibited Cyp1A activity with an IC50
value of 4.2 0.6 nM (n = 4). (C) Inhibition of aromatase activity. Aromatase activity
was measured using human recombinant aromatase (human Cyp 19 + P450
reductase Supersomes) and O-benzylfluorescein benzyl ester as
a substrate.
Ketoconazole was used as a positive control with an IC50 value of 1.0 0.2 lM
(n = 4).

226
S. Parys et al. / Phytochemistry 71 (2010) 221–229
(Table 5S). The resulting data were compared with previously pub-
lished data for fucotriphlorethol-A-dodecaacetate (Glombitza
et al., 1977) and proved compound 3 to be fucotriphlorethol A. This
is the first report of this compound in its non-acetylated form.
In former studies with extracts of F. vesiculosus fucols as well as
fucophlorethols were isolated (Glombitza et al., 1975, 1977). In
contrast to these reports, in the present study 1H NMR, MALDI-
TOF-MS analysis and the isolation of compounds 1–3 only point
to fucophlorethols as the predominant structural type. As fucols
show 1H NMR resonance signals distinguishable but very similar
to those of fucophlorethols, small amounts of fucols in our sample
cannot be excluded, however higher concentrations of fucols were
clearly not detectable by MALDI-TOF-MS analysis (data not
shown).
activation of carcinogens. During phase 2 of xenobiotic metabolism,
enzymes generally conjugate activated xenobiotics to endogenous
ligands like glutathione (GSH), glucuronic-, acetic-, or sulfuric-acid,
thus facilitating their excretion in form of these conjugates (Köhle
and Bock, 2007). Cyp1A, involved in the metabolic activation of
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, aflatoxin B1, and mutagens de-
rived from cooked food including IQ, Glu-P1 and PhIP, was selected
as a phase 1 marker enzyme. As indicated in Fig. 4B, all three com-
pounds dose-dependently inhibited Cyp1A activity, using homoge-
nates of b-naphthoflavone-induced rat hepatoma cells as an
enzyme source. Compounds 1 and 2 were about twofold more ac-
tive than compound 3. IC50 values were in the range of 18–34 lg/
ml (Table 4). In contrast to the oligomeric fucophlorethols 1–3,
phloroglucinol did not inhibit Cyp1A activity at concentrations up
Fucophlorethols 1–3 were tested in a series of bioassays indic-
ative of cancer chemopreventive activities in comparison to the
monomer phloroglucinol (Table 4). Reactive oxygen species play
a role in the initiation and promotion phase of carcinogenesis. To
detect radical-scavenging potential, we used the stable radical
1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Radical-scavengers react
with DPPH to produce 1,1-diphenyl-2-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)hydra-
zine, which is indicated by the degree of discoloration at 515 nm.
With all three fucophlorethols we observed dose-dependent scav-
to 50 lg/ml. This may indicate that the activities observed with
compounds 1–3 result from an unspecific ‘‘tanning”-like interac-
tion with proteins rather than from mechanism-based inhibition.
Unfortunately, addition of an excess of bovine serum albumin to
protect the enzyme from unspecific protein binding disturbed fluo-
rimetric detection in the assay system, and therefore, specificity
could not been determined (data not shown).
NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreducatese (QR) activity, which is in-
duced through transcription factor Nrf2-mediated activation of
the anti-oxidant-response element in the promoter region of QR
and other phase 2 enzymes like glutathione S-transferases (Köhle
and Bock, 2007; Surh et al., 2008) was investigated as a represen-
tative for phase 2 enzymes in murine hepatoma cell culture. In
contrast to phloroglucinol, which resulted in a dose-dependent
induction of QR activity with a CD value (concentration required
enging of DPPH radicals in a concentration range of 1–50
lg/ml
(Fig. 4A). From these data, IC50 values in the range of 10–14
lg/
ml were computed (Table 4). The monomer phloroglucinol was
used for comparison and as a positive control and demonstrated
equal potential to scavenge DPPH radicals as the phloroglucinol
oligomers, with an IC50 value of 13.2 lg/ml. This was in agreement
with an earlier study investigating the anti-oxidant potential of
Ecklonia stolonifera, which reported an IC50 value of phloroglucinol
to induce the specific activity of QR) of 18.1 0.9
tested fucophlorethols were inactive with this respect at concen-
trations up to 50 g/ml (Table 4). This may be due to limited cellu-
lg/ml, all three
of 55.7
lg/4 ml (Lee et al., 1996). We also investigated anti-oxidant
l
potential by scavenging of superoxide anion radicals generated by
oxidation of hypoxanthine to uric acid by xanthine oxidase. Com-
pounds 1 and 3 as well as phloroglucinol did not show any activity
lar uptake of these high molecular weight compounds.
Interestingly, triphlorethol A, an open-chain trimer of phloroglu-
cinol isolated from Ecklonia cava was identified as an inducer of
the phase 2 enzyme heme oxygenase-1 through a Nrf2-mediated
at concentrations up to 250
lg/ml. Compound 2 was weakly active
with an IC50 value of 152.9
lg/ml (Table 4). We also determined
mechanisms at 5–30
lM concentrations (corresponding to 1.9–
oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), using 2,2-azobis-(2-
11.2 g/ml) (Kang et al., 2007).
l
amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) as a peroxyl-radical gen-
erator. At a concentration of 1 lg/ml, all three compounds were
>3-fold potent in scavenging peroxyl radicals than the water solu-
ble vitamin E analogue trolox used as a reference compound. Phlor-
oglucinol was even more active in peroxyl radical scavenging
In a simplified scheme, tumor promotion can be regarded as the
second step of carcinogenesis (Surh, 2003). Although cellular
changes acquired during tumor promotion are generally reversible,
repeated contact of initiated cells with tumor promotors finally
leads to irreversible tumor progression. Processes such as chronic
inflammation contribute to tumor promotion through the action
of prostaglandins as inflammatory mediators and have been esti-
mated to be associated to 15% of malignancies (Khor et al., 2008).
In addition, life-long exposure to estrogens is regarded as one of
the major risk factors of breast cancer by tissue specific mecha-
nisms mediated through the estrogen receptors (Oseni et al.,
2008). Consequently, cyclooxygenases, the key enzymes in prosta-
glandin biosynthesis, and aromatase (Cyp19), catalyzing the con-
version of androgens into estrogens, are targets of
activity, with 5.4 ORAC units at a 1 lg/ml concentration.
Subsequently the potential of compounds 1–3 to modulate the
activity of drug-metabolizing enzymes, i.e. phase 1 cytochromes
P450 (Cyp) enzymes and phase 2 detoxifying enzymes was investi-
gated. During phase 1 of xenobiotic metabolism, xenobiotics are
activated by addition of functional groups which render these com-
pounds more hydrophilic. Although this step in drug metabolism is
often essential for complete detoxification, phase 1 enzyme activity
is in many cases induced by xenobiotics and may contribute to the
Table 4
Summary of potential cancer chemopreventive activities of compounds 1–3.
DPPH
X/XO
ORAC
Cyp1A
QR
AR
Cox-1
1
2
3
14.4 2.0
13.8 1.3
10.0 0.6
13.2 0.8
>250
152.9
>250
>250
3.5 0.2
3.2 0.2
3.3 0.3
5.4 0.2
20.0 0.4
17.9 1.0
33.7 3.0
>50
>50
>50
3.3 0.1
5.6 0.3
1.2 0.1
>25
39
39
44
90b
>50
Phloroglucinol
18.1 0.9a
*
Test systems: DPPH: DPPH scavenging (SC50 in
(IC50 in
Cox-1 inhibition (% inhibition at 100
l
g/ml); X/XO: Oꢀ2 ꢂ-scavenging (SC50 in
l
g/ml); ORAC: ROO -scavenging (ORAC units at 1
l
g/ml); Cyp1A: Cyp1A inhibition
l
g/ml); QR: QR induction (CD values, concentration required to double the specific activity of QR, in
g/ml).
Some signs of toxicity were visible, and an IC50 value for toxicity of 28.9
l
g/ml); AR: Aromatase (Cyp19) inhibition (IC50 in l
g/ml); Cox-1:
l
a
lg/ml was determined.
b
An IC50 value of 3.8 lM (corresponding to 0.48 lg/ml) was determined, as described earlier (Bohr et al., 2005)

S. Parys et al. / Phytochemistry 71 (2010) 221–229
227
chemoprevention and were selected as marker systems for antitu-
mor-promoting potential.
We used human recombinant aromatase (Cyp19) as an enzyme
source in a fluorimetric test system to sensitively detect aromatase
inhibitors. As indicated in Fig. 4C, all three compounds dose-
dependently inhibited the enzymatic activity of aromatase at con-
millennium software consisting of a Waters controller 600 with in-
line degasser, an autosampler 717 plus, a 996 photodiode array
detector and a fraction collector III. HPLC–ESI-MS measurements
were performed using an Agilent 1100 Series HPLC including
DAD (250 nm) coupled with an API 2000, Triple Quadrupole, LC/
MS/MS (Applied Biosystems/MDS Sciex) and ESI source. Stationary
centrations below 10
most potent inhibitor, with an IC50 value of 1.2
l
g/ml. Compound 3 was identified as the
phase was
125 ꢁ 2 mm, 5
a
reversed phase C18 column (Nucleodur 100,
lm, Macherey-Nagel, Düren). For the chromatogra-
lg/ml, followed
by compounds 1 and 2 (Table 4). Similar to the effects on Cyp1A
activity, phloroglucinol did not inhibit aromatase activity. From
these results we can not exclude that aromatase inhibition ob-
served with fucophlorethols 1–3 might be due to unspecific inter-
action with the enzyme.
In contrast, phloroglucinol was identified as a potent inhibitor
of Cox-1 activity. At a concentration of 100 lg/ml, we observed a
90% inhibition of Cox-1 enzymatic activity using microsomes of
ram seminal vesicles as an enzyme source, and we determined
an IC50 value of 3.8 lM (corresponding to 0.48 lg/ml) as described
phy a linear gradient was used (from MeOH/H2O 10/90 to MeOH/
H2O 100/0 in 20 min, each with 2 mM NH4Ac). MALDI-TOF-MS
spectra were recorded on a VOYAGER DE-PRO-time of flight mass
spectrometer (Applied Biosystems; Foster City, USA). As matrix
2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid in acetonitrile/0.05% trifluoroacetic acid
was used. EI- and FAB-MS measurements were performed using a
Finnigan MAT 95 XL spectrometer or a Kratos Concept 1H spec-
trometer, respectively. HR MALDI-TOF-MS measurements were
performed using an ABI Voyager system 4312 MALDI-TOF-MS. As
matrix cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid was used.
previously (Bohr et al., 2005). All three fucophlorethol derivatives
moderately inhibited Cox-1 activity, with about 40% inhibition at
a 100 lg/ml concentration. Cox-1 contains two catalytic sites, a
4.2. Algal material
cyclooxygenase site, which is located within a long hydrophobic
channel in the core of the protein, and a peroxidase site containing
a heme moiety located on the surface of the enzyme (Chandrasekh-
aran and Simmons, 2004). Previous studies with resveratrol (3,40,5-
trihydroxystilbene) indicated that the compound inhibits both the
cyclooxygenase and the peroxidase activity of Cox-1 and identified
the m-hydroquinone moiety, which is also found in phloroglucinol,
as the structural element essential for the irreversible inhibition of
Cox-1 (Szewczuk et al., 2004). Based on these findings, we assume
that the low molecular weight phloroglucinol may also inhibit both
catalytic sites of Cox-1, whereas the high molecular weight fucoph-
lorethols might either react with the heme moiety to inhibit the
peroxidase-catalysed step in the formation of prostaglandins or
unspecifically interact with the protein.
The brown alga F. vesiculosus was harvested in February 2003 by
G.M. König and K.-W. Glombitza. The collecting site was Corniche
Armorique, St. Efflam, France. The samples used in this study were
identified by Glombitza. The fresh algal material was deep frozen
and stored at ꢀ20 °C. Voucher specimens of F. vesiculosus have
been deposited at the herbarium of Institute for Pharmaceutical
Biology, University of Bonn, Germany.
4.3. Extraction
Extracts obtained from F. vesiculosus were prepared according
to the extraction procedure described before (Parys et al., 2007).
For this purpose deep frozen algal fragments (500 g) were pulver-
ized and extracted on ice and under N2-gassing with 96% EtOH
(800 ml) employing an Ultra Turrax (Ika T 25) for 2 h. The solid res-
idue was removed by centrifugation. After evaporation of ethanol
under reduced pressure chlorophyll and lipophilic substances were
removed by liquid–liquid partitioning thrice to eight times be-
tween petroleum ether as well as CH2Cl2 (each 300 ml) and the
residual aqueous phase until the organic layer was merely slightly
yellow. Subsequently, the aqueous phase was freeze dried to yield
18.9 g crude extract. The crude extract was fractionated via semi-
preparative HPLC. As stationary phase a reversed phase C18 column
3. Conclusions
We have tested potential chemopreventive activities of three
fucophlorethols from F. vesiculosus. All three compounds were
identified as potent radical scavengers, and may contribute to the
prevention of carcinogenesis by inhibition of cytochrome P450 en-
zymes like CYP1A, involved in carcinogen activation, and aroma-
tase, essential for estrogen biosynthesis. In addition, all three
compounds moderately inhibited Cox-1 activity as an indication
of anti-inflammatory potential. Since we can not exclude that these
enzyme inhibitory effects are due to unspecific protein binding,
chemopreventive potential need to be further investigated in sub-
sequent animal studies.
(Phenomenex aqua, 200 Å, 5
lm, 250 ꢁ 10 mm) was employed.
The column was eluted using (A) 1% acetic acid in demineralized
water and (B) 1% acetic acid in acetonitrile as linear gradient (1%
(B) up to 100% (B) in 30 min, 2.5 ml/min) to yield 10 fractions. Frac-
tion 4 eluting between 13 and 15.5 min was further separated on
the same column using an isocratic mobile phase (A:B, 90:10,
2.5 ml/min) to get six sub-fractions. One known and two new com-
pounds were isolated and characterized: trifucodiphlorethol A (1,
Rt ꢃ 14.5 min), trifucotriphlorethol A (2, Rt ꢃ 18 min) and fucot-
riphlorethol A (3, Rt ꢃ 17 min).
4. Experimental
4.1. General experimental procedures
UV and IR spectra were obtained employing Perkin-Elmer
Lambda 40 and Perkin-Elmer Spectrum BX instruments, respec-
tively. All NMR spectra of fractions and pure compounds were re-
corded on a Bruker Avance 300-DPX spectrometer operating at
300 MHz (1H) or 75 MHz (13C) or using a Bruker Avance 500-DRX
spectrometer operating at 500 MHz (1H) and 125 MHz (13C),
respectively. Spectra were referenced to residual solvent signals
with resonances at dH/C 3.35/49.0 (CD3OD), 2.04/29.8 (acetone-
d6), 7.26/77.0 (CDCl3) and 4.68 (1H: HDO in D2O). NMR data were
processed using Bruker XWIN-NMR Version 3.5 or Topspin 1.3.
HPLC was undertaken using a Waters system controlled by Waters
4.3.1. Trifucodiphlorethol A (1)
brown solid; yield 7.1 mg; UV (MeOH) k 350–200 nm (br); kmax
209 nm (e
10417); IR (ATR) mmax (cmꢀ1) 3219, 1703, 1598, 1523,
1434, 1272, 1150, 1047, 1001, 820, 644, 597; 1H and 13C NMR data
(see Table 1); LC–ESI-MS: m/z 747 [M+H]+, m/z 745 [MꢀH]ꢀ.
4.3.2. Trifucodiphlorethol-A-hexadecaacetate
1H and 13C NMR data (see Table 3S); FAB MS: elimination series
of ketene (C2H2O, m/z 42): m/z 1441 [M+Na]+ ? 1357, m/z 1419
[M+H]+ ? 957; elimination of water: m/z 1167 ? 1149, m/z

228
S. Parys et al. / Phytochemistry 71 (2010) 221–229
1041 ? 1023, m/z 957 ? 939; HR MALDI-TOF-MS: m/z 1441.2734
(calc. for C68H58O34Na, 1441.2707).
(1997), measuring oxygen consumption during the conversion of
arachidonic acid to prostaglandins.
Acknowledgments
4.3.3. Trifucotriphlorethol A (2)
brown solid; yield 5.3 mg; UV (MeOH) k 350–200 nm (br); kmax
210 nm (e
14033); IR (ATR) mmax (cmꢀ1) 3219, 1599, 1519, 1434,
We thank Dr. R. Dieckmann, Institut für Chemie, Arbeitsgruppe
Biochemie und Molekulare Biologie, Technische Universität Berlin
for MALDI-TOF-MS measurements. We thank Dr. Engeser and C.
Sondag, Institute for Organic Chemistry, University of Bonn, Ger-
many, for recording the EI-MS and FAB-MS. Financial support from
the EC for the ‘‘SEAHEALTH” (Contract-no. QLK1-CT-2002-02433)
project is gratefully acknowledged.
1271, 1148, 1120, 1044, 999, 818, 650, 588; 1H and 13C NMR data
(see Table 2); LC–ESI-MS: m/z 871 [M+H]+, m/z 869 [MꢀH]ꢀ.
4.3.4. Trifucotriphlorethol-A-octadecaacetate
1H NMR data (see Table 4S); FAB MS: m/z 1665 [M+K]+, elimina-
tion series of ketene (m/z 42): m/z 1649 [M+Na]+ ? 1565, m/z
1543 ? 1165; m/z 1001 ? 917, elimination of water and ketene
(m/z 60): m/z 1065 ? 1005, m/z 1001 ? 941, elimination of water:
m/z 1083 ? 1065, tetraphenyl fragment: m/z 917; HR MALDI-TOF-
MS: m/z 1649.2990 (calc. for C78H66O39Na, 1649.3079).
Appendix A. Supplementary data
Supplementary data associated with this article can be found, in
the online version, at doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2009.10.020.
4.3.5. Fucotriphlorethol A (3)
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