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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Hilo, Hawaii » Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center » Tropical Plant Genetic Resources and Disease Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #422382
Research Project: Conservation, Management, and Genetic Improvement of Tropical and Subtropical Fruit, Nut, and Beverage Crop Germplasm for the Pacific Region

Location: Tropical Plant Genetic Resources and Disease Research

Title: Bioactive compounds from Dodonaea viscosa flowers: potent antibacterial and antiproliferative effects in breast cancer cells

Author
item RAKSAT, ANCHARA - University Of Hawaii
item LEE, DANIEL - University Of Hawaii
item GI, YOUNGLIN - University Of Hawaii
item WONGWIWATTHANANUKIT, SUPAKIT - University Of Hawaii
item CHANG, LENG KAR - Georgia Institute Of Science And Research Incorporated
item KAAWALOA, PIILANI - Kamehameha Schools
item Wall, Marisa
item LEE, JASON - University Of Hawaii
item CHANG, LENG CHEE - University Of Hawaii

Submitted to: Molecules
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/15/2025
Publication Date: 5/22/2025
Citation: Raksat, A., Lee, D., Gi, Y.J., Wongwiwatthananukit, S., Chang, L.K., Kaawaloa, K.P., Wall, M.M., Lee, J., Chang, L.C. 2025. Bioactive compounds from Dodonaea viscosa flowers: potent antibacterial and antiproliferative effects in breast cancer cells. Molecules. 30(11):2274. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30112274.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30112274

Interpretive Summary: Dodonaea viscosa (Sapindaceae), a Hawaiian local medicinal plant, has been traditionally used to treat rashes and skin diseases. In this study, bioactive compounds were characterized from D. viscosa flower extracts with antimicrobial and antitumor properties. Thirteen compounds were isolated, and their structures elucidated using spectroscopy data. One compound (macarangaflavanone B) exhibited potent antibacterial activity against Gram positive bacteria, while santin (a flavonoid) demonstrated selective antiproliferative activity against inflammatory breast cancer cell lines. These findings highlight the dual antibacterial and anticancer potential of compounds from D. viscosa, emphasing their promise as candidates for therapeutic development.

Technical Abstract: Dodonaea viscosa (Sapindaceae), a Hawaiian local medicinal plant, has been traditionally used to treat rashes and skin diseases. The study aims to discover and characterize bioactive compounds from D. viscosa flower extracts with antimicrobial and antitumor properties. Thirteen compounds were isolated from the methanol extract of D. viscosa flowers, and their structures were characterized using spectroscopy data, comparing their NMR spectroscopic profiles with previously reported data. Subsequent antibacterial assays revealed that one particular compound 12, exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Notably, it demonstrated a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 2 µg/mL, indicating its potent antibacterial potential. In addition to antimicrobial properties, the isolated compounds demonstrated dose-dependent antiproliferative effects in breast cancer cell lines. Notably, inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) cell lines, a highly aggressive subtype, were more sensitive to compound 6, with IC50 values of 4.22 µM (BCX-010), 6.74 µM (SUM190), and 7.73 µM (SUM149), compared to non-IBC cell line. These findings highlight the dual antibacterial and anticancer potential of compounds from D. viscosa, emphasing their promise as candidates for therapeutic development.