Abstract
Many chromones, especially those having 2‐substituents, manifest a remarkable variety of biological activities, such as the important cytotoxicity against human leukaemia cells, antiallergic, anticancer activities; unfortunately chromones normally disturb mitochondrial bioenergetics. A new 2‐styrylchromone has been synthesized by the Baker–Venkataraman method and a classical approach has been used to assess the effects of 2‐styrylchromone (3′‐allyl‐4′,5,7‐trimethoxy‐2‐styrylchromone) on rat liver mitochondrial bioenergetic. Mitochondrial respiratory rate and transmembrane potential were measured polarographically using a Clark oxygen electrode and with a selective electrode, respectively. All the disturbance induced by 2‐styrylchromone on the enzymatic activities (succinate dehydrogenase, succinate cytochrome c reductase, and cytochrome c oxidase) and in the mitochondrial osmotic volume were determined spectrophotometrically. State 4, state 3, and uncoupled (presence of carbonylcyanide p‐trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone) respiration rates were decreased by 2‐styrylchromone in a concentration‐dependent manner. Depression of respiratory activity promoted by 2‐styrylchromone is essentially mediated through partial inhibition of succinate cytochrome c reductase. Phosphorylation capacity was strongly depressed as a result of an inhibition on the enzymatic complex (F~0~F~1~‐ATPase) and also because of a deleterious effect on the integrity of the mitochondrial membrane, which uncoupled the respiration‐generated proton gradient with the proton‐driven phosphorylation. The structural integrity of the outside membrane is severely affected since cytochrome c can be released. 2‐Styrylchromone uncouples oxidative phosphorylation by an inhibitory action on the redox chain and ATP synthase activity. Additionally, it can release cytochrome c. Cell death can probably result due to the induction of procaspase‐9 and other procaspases and by a strong decrease of the available ATP. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 16:220–226, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/jbt.10042