Prenylated 2-arylbenzofuran derivatives with potent antioxidant properties from Chlorophora regia (Moraceae)

Abstract

Extracts of Chlorophora regia are frequently used in Ghana in traditional medicine. There is, however, no reported data on the chemical composition of the plant. Comprehensive phytochemical investigation of the stem bark of C. regia resulted in the isolation of three new prenylated 2-arylbenzofuran derivatives, regiafuran A–C (1–3), and one new prenylated flavonol (4), together with fifteen known compounds (5–19). Their structures were elucidated by combined spectroscopic analysis of their NMR and HRESI-MSn data. Compounds 1, 2, 5, 9 and 15 exhibited remarkable free radical scavenging properties with IC50 values of 1.9μg/ml, 2.4μg/ml, 2.2μg/ml, 2.1μg/ml and 1.8μg/ml, respectively, compared to the standard trolox (IC50 1.1μg/ml). The isolated compounds did not, however, show any anti-inflammatory potential when tested using a PGE2 (prostaglandin E2) competitive enzyme immunoassay.