Armatenols A-C (1-3), new isoflavan-4-ols, have been isolated from the CHCl3-soluble sub-fraction of Colutea armata Hemsl. & Lace, along with two known compounds namely 8-methoxyvestitol (4) and colutequinone (5), reported for the first time from this species. Their structures have been elucidated through spectroscopic techniques including MS, IR, UV, CD, 1 D and 2 D NMR. Compounds 1-2 invariably showed significant antioxidant activity using the methods of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity (DPPH), Fe3+ reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay and 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) radical scavenging activity (ABTS).
Keywords: Colutea armata; Papilionaceae; antioxidant activity; armatenols A–C; isoflavan-4-ols.