A highly efficient screening method for naturally occurring products that bind to a specific target protein was demonstrated by using hVDR magnetic beads. The native ligand 1α,25(OH)₂ VD₃ (1) was selectively bound by hVDR magnetic beads when present in a mixture of natural compounds. Furthermore, this method was shown to be applicable to the identification of natural products that interact with a specific protein immobilized on the beads from an extract of a natural resource. Two new natural compounds were isolated by this method. This approach will be helpful for the discovery of novel, naturally occurring products that bind to specific target proteins. This method has the further advantages that it can identify the HPLC peak corresponding to the target compound for isolation, as well as provide important UV, CD, or MS profile information.

Chromones and flavonoids are important bioactive compounds. We envisioned that new heterocyclic-substituted chromones or flavonoids might act as new bioactive compounds. To obtain diverse molecules, we developed an efficient one-pot synthesis by Michael aldol reaction of chromone and flavonoid derivatives bearing heterocyclic units. The 2,3-heterocyclic-substituted chromones were obtained in one step. Moreover, the use of substituted benzaldehydes and subsequent addition of heterocyclic aldehydes gave 3-pyridyl-substituted flavones. We also examined these one-pot reactions in the solid phase. To introduce an additional point of diversity into the molecules, Suzuki–Miyaura coupling was performed. Furthermore, we identified the cytotoxicity of the synthesized compounds against cancer cells (PANC1 and HeLa cells). Several compounds were cytotoxic to these cancer cells.