(±)-Hypecurvone A (1) and B (2), two new undescribed phenyl polyketides, along with seven known analogues (3-9) were isolated from the whole plant of Hypericum curvisepalum. Chiral separation of 1 and 2 yielded two pairs of enantiomers 1a/1b and 2a/2b, respectively. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses and ECD spectra simulations. All isolates exhibited moderate cytotoxicity against human hepatocellular carcinoma SMMC-7721 cells, and compound 3 also showed weak cytotoxicity toward MGC-803 cells. The cytotoxicity of these compounds was found to be related to enhanced mitochondria-mediated apoptosis and inhibition of the G2/M phase of the cell cycle.
Keywords: Hypericum curvisepalum; Phenyl polyketides; cytotoxicity.