A new cytoprotective compound, 1-[(4S)-3,4-dihydro-4-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran-6-yl]-ethanone (1) was isolated from the flower buds of Tussilago farfara L. (Compositae), together with eight known compounds, 3,4-dicaffeoyl isoquinic acid (2), trans-cinnamic acid (3), 4-hydroxyacetophenone (4), 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid methyl ester (5), 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid methyl ester (6), 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (7), isoquercetrin (8), and ligucyperonol (9). Compounds 2-4 were found in this plant for the first time. The isolates 1-9, were tested for their cytoprotective activities against glucose oxidase-induced oxidative stress in mouse fibroblast NIH3T3 cells and human keratinocyte HaCaT cells. Among them, 1 and 3 showed significant cytoprotective activities as determined by MTT assay and lactate dehydrogenase leakage, indicating their possibility as the potent cytoprotective agents. The structure of 1 was determined by spectroscopic data analysis including 1D- and 2D-NMR experiments, and its absolute configuration was elucidated by a circular dichroism.
Keywords: Compositae; Cytoprotection; Oxidative stress; Phenolic compound; Tussilago farfara.