Two new 2-arylbenzo[b]furans (1-2) and ten known compounds (3-12) were identified from the 95% EtOH extract of the branches and leaves of Itea indochinensis for the first time. Their structures were determined mainly based on extensive analyses of UV, IR, 1D/2D NMR and HRMS spectra. The results of MTT assays demonstrated the anti-tumor potential of compound 1 with good selectivity, which displayed moderate inhibitory effects on proliferation of SK-hep-1 cells with IC50 value of 22.3 μM, while weak inhibitory effect on proliferation of HepG2 cells with an inhibition rate of 25% at 20 μM, and no obviously inhibitory effect on proliferation of A549 cells at 20 μM. In addition, compound 1 exhibited its significant scavenging capacity on ABTS·+ free radical with an IC50 value of 0.11 mg/mL, while weak scavenging effects on DPPH and O2·- radicals with scavenging ratios of 32.93% and 21.49% at 1 mg/mL, respectively.
Keywords: 2-arylbenzo[b]furans; Itea; anti-hepatocellular carcinoma effect; anti-oxidant capacity.