Nonprenylated rotenoids, a new class of potent breast cancer resistance protein inhibitors

Two rotenoids isolated from BoerhaaVia diffusa (Nyctaginaceae), boeravinones G (1) and H (2), have been found to potently inhibit the drug efflux activity of breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP/ABCG2), a multidrug transporter responsible for cancer cell resistance to chemotherapy. The isolation of nine additional rotenoid derivatives (3-11), including the new boeravinones I (10) and J (11), from the extract of B. diffusa roots allowed us to establish structure-activity relationships toward inhibition of BCRP-mediated drug transport activity. The results show the positive roles of a methoxy group at position 6 of ring B and the absence of a substituent at position 10, and the requirement for a 6a/12a double bond between rings B and C. In contrast, both contraction of ring B, to give a coumaronochromone (11), and tetrasubstitution of ring D appeared to be detrimental for the inhibitory potency. The present study provides the first data on the BCRP-inhibiting activity of rotenoid derivatives, indicating boeravinones as a new class of interesting BCRP inhibitors.