Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Activity of Dihydrobenzofuran Neolignans

Abstract

Abstract We have evaluated the antimicrobial activity of the dihydrobenzofuran neolignans (DBNs) 1 ((±)‐ trans ‐dehydrodicoumarate dimethyl ester), 2 ((±)‐ trans ‐dehydrodiferulate dimethyl ester, 3 ((±)‐4‐ O ‐acetyl‐ trans ‐dehydrodicoumarate dimethyl ester), and 4 ((±)‐4‐ O ‐acetyl‐ trans ‐dehydrodiferulate dimethyl ester) in terms of their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values. We have also assessed the cytotoxicity of compounds 1–4 to V79 cells by the XTT assay. Compounds 1 , 2 , and 3 display moderate activity against Streptococcus mitis (MIC=400 μg/ml); compound 2 is also active against Lactobacillus casei (MIC=400 μg/ml). Additionally, compound 3 is moderately active against Aspergillus niger (MIC=125 μg/ml), A. fumigatus (MIC=500 μg/ml), and Mucor rouxii (MIC=250 μg/ml). Compounds 2 and 4 (IC 50 > 400 μM), which have a methoxyl group at the aromatic ring, are less cytotoxic to V79 cells as compared to compounds 1 (IC 50 =232.00±7.33 μM) and 3 (IC 50 =67.97±3.45 μM).