Dasiphora fruticosa L. (Rosaceae), also known as Potentilla fruticosa L. (syn.), is a hardy deciduous shrub widely distributed in the north temperate regions of the world. Three methylene bisflavan-3-ols (1-3), together with a procyanidin dimer, (-)-afzelechin-(4α→8)-(-)-afzelechin (4) were isolated for the first time from the branches and leaves of the titled plant, in addition to 11 known compounds (5-15). Their structures were elucidated by means of extensive spectroscopic analysis and by comparison with data reported in the literatures. Methylene 6,8-bis(7-O-glucosyl) catechin (1) was determined to be a new dimeric flavan-3-ol glycoside through a methylene linkage between C-8 and C-8 of two units. At a concentration of 128 μg/mL, the known compounds 9 - 13 exhibited antibacterial activities on Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus, Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Compound 12 also showed certain glucose uptake stimulating activity.
Keywords: Dasiphora fruticosa; Potentilla fruticosa (syn.); Rosaceae; anti-bacterial; flavan-3-ol dimers; methylene 6,8-bis(7-O-glucosyl)catechin.