Ferulenol is a prenylated 4-hydroxycoumarin derivative from Ferula communis var. genuine with haemorrhagic action [1]. It has been demonstrated that ferulenol exihibits potent antimycobacterial activity [2].
In vitro: Ferulenol stimulated tubulin polymerization in the absence of GTP, with a less extensive polymerization profile at 100 pM concentration. Ferulenol decreased radiolabeled colchicine bound by tubulin in a dose-dependent manner. Ferulenol altered the normal nuclear morphology of MCF-7 cells. Treatment with ferulenol (100 nM and 1 μM) for 24h induced a dose-dependent reduction of cell viability [3]
In vivo: In albino mice, the acute LD50s of ferulenol by single po or ip were 2,100 and 319 mg/kg bw, respectively. Three days after ferulenol administration, dosed animals showed hypoprothrombinemia with internal and external hemorrhages. Male mice were more sensitive to intoxication than females [4].
References:
[1] Lamnaouer D, Bodo B, Martin M T, et al. Ferulenol and ω-hydroxyferulenol, toxic coumarins from Ferula communis var. genuina[J]. Phytochemistry, 1987, 26(6): 1613-1615.
[2] E. Mamoci, I. Cavoski, V. Simone, et al. Chemical composition and in vitro activity of plant extracts from Ferula communis and Dittrichia viscosa against postharvest fungi. Molecules 16(3), 2609-2625 (2011).
[3] Bocca C, Gabriel L, Bozzo F, et al. Microtubule-interacting activity and cytotoxicity of the prenylated coumarin ferulenol[J]. Planta medica, 2002, 68(12): 1135-1137.
[4] Fraigui O, Lamnaouer D, Faouzi M Y. Acute toxicity of ferulenol, a 4-hydroxycoumarin isolated from Ferula communis L[J]. Veterinary and human toxicology, 2002, 44(1): 5-7.