Two new aryltetralin-type lignans (1-2) were isolated from the dichloromethane fraction of 95% ethanol extract of Camellia oleifera fruit husk. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis, and the absolute configurations of compounds 1-2 were determined by the comparison of measured ECD curves with the quantum chemical calculated ones. The new compounds were tested for their antioxidant activities and cytotoxicity against three human cancer cell lines (Huh-7, H460 and MCF-7). While compounds 1 and 2 only showed slight DPPH radical scavenging activities with the IC50 values of 38.68 ± 5.02 and 56.62 ± 1.49 μM, respectively.
Keywords: Camellia oleifera; ECD; antioxidant activities; cytotoxicity; fruit husk; lignan.