[A study on DPPH free-radical scavengers from Xylaria nigripes]

The DPPH free-radical scavengers from the fungal Chinese medicine 'Wulingshen' (Xylaria nigripes) were studied. After separation using silica gel colunm chromatography, MPLC and HPLC, 20 DPPH free-radical scavengers with purity higher than 85% and yield more than 2 mg were screened, in which compound B4-16 had relatively higher yield and stronger free radical scavenging activity. The formula of compound B4-16 was determined to be C10H10O4 (MW: 194) based on its FAB-MS, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, 1H-13C HMBC, IR spectra, and its structure was elucidated. It was identical with 5,8-dihydroxy-3-methyl-3,4-dihydroisocoumarin. At the concentration of 20 mumol/L, its DPPH free\|radical scavenging activity was as 1.67 times as that of vitamin C or 2.10 times as that of Vitamin E.