Biological Evidences of Dicoumarol: A Review

Abstract

Dicoumarol, a natural anticoagulant drug chemically designated as is metabolized from coumarin in the sweet clover (Melilotus alba and Melilotus officinalis) by molds, such as Penicillium nigricans and Penicillium jensi. Coumarin (1,2-benzopyrone), the parent molecule of dicoumarol, is the simplest compound of a large class of naturally occurring phenolic substances made of fused benzene and pyrone rings . In addition, the coumarin anticoagulants, dicoumarol (Dicumarol) and its synthetic derivative warfarin sodium (Coumadin), have been shown to decrease metastases in experimental animals. Warfarin sodium, largely replacing dicoumarol therapeutically as an anticoagulant, has been used for the treatment of a variety of cancers and shown to improve tumor response rates and survival in patients with several types of cancer. However, despite numerous studies, little information has been acquired on the cellular mechanism of action of coumarin compounds in the treatment of malignancies. Possibly for this reason, the coumarin compounds have not received much attention for the treatment of cancer.