ABSTRACT
Bioactive fractionation, based on multi-drug resistance (MDR) pump inhibition in Staphylococcus aureus, resulted in the isolation of the active inhibitors 5'-methoxyhydnocarpin-D from leaves of Berberis (formerly Mahonia) trifoliolata and pheophorbide a from Berberis fendleri. The hydnocarpin derivative was not found in the latter species. Pheophytin a (the phytol derivative of pheophorbide a) was identified from both species, but it proved to have no MDR pump inhibitory activity. The somewhat uncommon, and inactive, flavonoid tricin was identified from B. trifoliolata. The occurrence of a flavonolignan in Mahonia-tpe species and its absence in Berberis sensu strictu may provide a chemical differentiation between the two groups which are now recombined on the basis of DNA studies. The strong bacterial efflux pump inhibition of pheophorbide a could be of importance as a plant defense against natural pathogens.
ABSTRACT
Although some progress has been reported on structure-activity relationships (SARs) for inhibitors of mammalian P-glycoprotein MDR efflux pumps, there is almost nothing in the literature regarding SARs for inhibitors of any bacterial efflux pump. Indeed, only a few of these have been described. Our discovery of a potent naturally occurring flavonolignan inhibitor of the NorA MDR pump of Staphylococcus aureus provided a structural foundation upon which SARs could be assessed via synthetic analogues. Several flavonolignans were prepared which proved to have greater potency than the natural isolate, 5'-methoxyhydnocarpin-D, while others showed decreased potency. Surprisingly, some simple alkylated flavones also were quite active MDR pump inhibitors. Variability of activity among the compounds tested was sufficient so that at least some SARs could be postulated and compared with those known for P-glycoprotein.