Secondary metabolites from the root of Lindera reflexa Hemsl

Abstract

Fourteen compounds were isolated from the root of Lindera reflexa Hemsl. Among these compounds, reflexan A (compound 1) was discovered to possess a novel skeleton and two stilbenes (compounds 2 and 3) were newly discovered compounds. Eleven known compounds (4–14) were also isolated, which included three alkaloids, one coumarin, four stilbenes, two flavonoids and katsumadain. The unusual structure of compounds 1, 2 and 3, along with their absolute configurations, was determined from UV, IR, HR ESI-MS, and 1D and 2D NMR data and by the comparison of experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra. All of the isolates were tested with antitumor and anti-inflammatory assays. The results revealed that compounds 1, 2, and 3 all showed inhibitory activity toward three tumor cell lines, A549 (human lung carcinoma), BEL-7402 (human liver carcinoma) and HCT-8 (human colon carcinoma). None of the compounds exhibited anti-inflammatory activity.