Maclurin exerts anti-cancer effects in human osteosarcoma cells via prooxidative activity and modulations of PARP, p38, and ERK signaling.

Maclurin [(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-(2,4,6-trihydroxyphenyl) methanone] is a natural compound that can be extracted from white mulberry(Morus alba) and purple mangosteen(Garcinia mangostana). Maclurin is known for its dual-sided effect on reactive oxygen species (ROS). Osteosarcoma is a primary malignant tumor of the bone and is one of the most aggressive cancers. It is common especially in children and young adults and can progress into highly metastatic cancer. In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer effects of maclurin on U2OS human osteosarcoma cells. The results indicated that maclurin exerts prooxidative effects and induces apoptosis via capase-3-independent PARP regulation in U2OS human osteosarcoma cells. Maclurin also inhibits the migration of U2OS human osteosarcoma cells. Maclurin modulates two of the three major mitogen-activated protein kinases that are closely linked with cancer metastasis; that is, it activates p38 and inactivates Extracellular signal-regulated kinase. The apoptosis-inducing effects of maclurin on U2OS osteosarcoma cells were diminished by additional treatment with antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), but the migration-inhibiting effect was not affected by NAC treatment. This further suggested the only apoptosis-inducing effect of maclurin may be strongly related to its prooxidative activity. Taken together, these results suggested that maclurin may be a strong candidate molecule as an anti-osteosarcoma agent.