Ability of prenylflavanones present in hops to induce apoptosis in a human Burkitt lymphoma cell line.

The identification of effective cancer preventive compounds from hops has become an important issue in public health-related research. We compared the antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing effects of side chain variants of prenylflavanones, e. g.

Synthesis of demethylxanthohumol, a new potent apoptosis-inducing agent from hops.

Starting from commercially available phloracetophenone (= 1-(2,4,6-trihydroxyphenyl)ethanone), we synthesized demethylxanthohumol (4), a derivative of xanthohumol, devoid of 6'-O-methyl group. Both are prenylchalcones derived from hops (Humulus lupulus). The synthesis was accomplished by an aldol condensation between MOM-protected acetophenone 2 and MOM-protected benzaldehyde 3.