Oxyprenylated Phenylpropanoids Bind to MT1 Melatonin Receptors and Inhibit Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation and Migration

Oxyprenylated compounds (i.e., ferulic acid and coumarin derivatives) demonstrate neuroprotection and anticancer properties as reported in previous studies. We have tested the affinity of oxyprenylated ferulic acid (1-4) and umbelliferone derivatives (5-11) to melatonin receptors as well as their antiproliferation and antimigratory properties against breast cancer (BC) cell lines. All the compounds except for ferulic acid, boropinic acid, and umbelliferone had binding affinities to melatonin receptors in the nM to mu M range, and both auraptene and umbellinprenin reduced BC cell proliferation and migration in phenotypically diverse BC including triple negative.