Guttiferone I, a new prenylated benzophenone from Garcinia humilis as a liver X receptor ligand.

Liver X receptors (LXR) have been implicated in cholesterol homeostasis. Agonists of LXR are expected to increase cholesterol efflux, lower LDL, and raise HDL levels. Screening of a natural product library of plant extracts using a LXR-SPA binding assay and bioassay-guided fractionation of the bark and stem extract of Garcinia humilis led to the discovery of a new polyisoprenylated benzophenone named guttiferone I (1). The IC(50) value for this compound in the LXRalpha-SPA binding assay was 3.4 muM. Details of the isolation, structure elucidation, and ligand binding activity of 1 are described.