Two new flavonols from Cudrania cochinchinensis

Area of Science:

• Phytochemistry
• Natural Products Chemistry
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Cudrania cochinchinensis is a plant species known for its traditional medicinal uses.
• Flavonoids are a class of plant secondary metabolites with diverse biological activities, including antioxidant properties.
• Identifying novel bioactive compounds from natural sources is crucial for drug discovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To isolate and characterize new and known compounds from the roots of Cudrania cochinchinensis.
• To evaluate the antioxidant capacity of the isolated compounds using established radical-scavenging assays.
• To identify specific compounds with significant antioxidant potential for further investigation.

Main Methods:

• Isolation of compounds from Cudrania cochinchinensis root extract using chromatographic techniques.
• Structure elucidation of isolated compounds employing spectroscopic methods (e.g., NMR, MS).
• Assessment of antioxidant activity using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical-scavenging assays.

Main Results:

• Two new flavonols, 6-p-hydroxybenzyl kaempferol (1) and 6-p-hydroxybenzyl quercetin (2), were successfully isolated and identified.
• Six known compounds were also isolated from the plant extract.
• Compounds 2, 4, and 7 exhibited significant radical-scavenging activities in both DPPH and ABTS assays, indicating notable antioxidant potential.

Conclusions:

• The roots of Cudrania cochinchinensis are a source of novel flavonol derivatives with antioxidant properties.
• Specific compounds, particularly 6-p-hydroxybenzyl quercetin (2), demonstrate potent free radical scavenging capabilities.
• These findings suggest that Cudrania cochinchinensis may be a valuable source for developing natural antioxidants.