Osajin is the major bioactive iso?avone present in the fruit of Maclura pomifera with antitumor, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

Osajin significantly decreases the viability of human NPC cells (TW076, CG1 and TW04 cells) in a dose-dependent manner. Osajin induces apoptosis in human NPC cells through multiple apoptotic pathways, including the extrinsic death receptor pathway, and intrinsic pathways relying on mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum stress[1]. Osajin exhibits growth inhibitory activity on six human cancer cell lines, including kidney, lung, prostate, breast, melanoma and colon cancer cells[2].

Osajin and pomiferin attenuates the myocardial dysfunction provoked by ischemia reperfusion. This is confirmed by an increase in both antioxidant enzyme values and total antioxidant activity. The cardioprotection provided by osajin and pomiferin treatment results from the suppression of oxidative stress and this correlates with improved ventricular function[3].

[1]. Huang TT, et al. Activation of multiple apoptotic pathways in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells by the prenylated isoflavone, osajin. PLoS One. 2011 Apr 12;6(4):e18308. [2]. Son IH, et al. Pomiferin, histone deacetylase inhibitor isolated from the fruits of Maclura pomifera. Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2007 Sep 1;17(17):4753-5. [3]. Florian T, et al. Effects of prenylated isoflavones osajin and pomiferin in premedication on heart ischemia-reperfusion. Biomed Pap Med Fac Univ Palacky Olomouc Czech Repub. 2006 Jul;150(1):93-100.