A coumarin from Mallotus resinosus that mediates DNA cleavage.

A crude extract prepared from roots of Mallotus resinosus exhibited significant Cu(2+)-dependent DNA strand scission activity and was thus selected for bioassay-guided fractionation. Scopoletin (1), a simple coumarin, was identified as the active principle responsible for DNA cleavage activity of the crude extract. The DNA strand scission activity of 1, as well as that of three structural analogues, is reported.