Two new sesquiterpenoids, 3-oxo-7-hydroxylholosericin A (1) and 1,5;8,12-diepoxy-guaia-12-one (2), together with seven known sesquiterpenoids 3-9, were isolated from Chinese agarwood induced by artificial holing originating from Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Gilg. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic techniques (UV, IR, 1D and 2D NMR) and MS analyses. The absolute configuration of compound 1 was determined by comparison of its measured CD curve with that of calculated data for 1 and ent-1. The NMR data of 3 were reported in this study for the first time. Compounds 1, 2, 4-6, together with the EtOAc extract showed moderate inhibitory activities against acetylcholinesterase, and compounds 4-6, 8 exhibited antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus or Ralstonia solanacearum.
Keywords: AChE inhibition activity; Aquilaria sinensis; Chinese agarwood induced by artificial holing; antibacterial activity; sesquiterpenoid.