One new flavanocoumarin (1), as well as six known flavonoids (2-7), was isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of the thorns of Gleditsia sinensis. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic measurements and comparison with data reported in literatures. Cytotoxic activities of compounds 1-6 were evaluated against human liver cancer SK-hep-1 cells in vitro by the MTT method, with compound 1 displaying moderate activity (IC50 of 62.53 μM). Furthermore, compound 1 could increase the number of apoptosis cells in a concentration-dependent manner.
Keywords: Gleditsia sinensis; apoptosis; cytotoxic activity; flavanocoumarin.