Chemical constituents of Asarum geophilum and their hepatoprotective effects

Abstract

One new chalcone glycoside, chalcononaringenin 2′,4-di- O-β -glucopyranoside ( 1 ), one new alkaloid, asageoside ( 2 ), and sixteen known flavonoids and aurone glycosides, ( 3 - 18 ) were isolated from a methanol extract of the aerial parts of Asarum geophilum Hemsl. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including 1D- and 2D NMR experiments as well as MS analysis and comparison of their NMR data with those reported in the literature. In addition, the hepatoprotective effects of all compounds were also evaluated in HepG2 cells at concentrations of 100, 20.0, 4.0, and 0.8 μg/mL. Quercetin, an antioxidant that showed hepatoprotective effect, was used as the positive control. Compounds 11 and 16 showed significant hepatocellular protective activity with IC 50 values of 13.4 ± 1.2 and 73.6 ± 9.1 μg/mL, respectively. • One new chalcone glycoside, chalcononaringenin 2′,4-di- O-β -glucopyranoside ( 1 ), was isolated from Asarum geophilum. • One new alkaloid, asageoside ( 2 ), was isolated from Asarum geophilum. • The structures were successfully determined by spectroscopic evidence. • The anti-hepatoprotective effect of all compounds was also evaluated.