Structure, absolute configuration and cytotoxicity of compounds isolated from Decaschistia harmandii

Phytochemical study of Decaschistia harmandii led to the identification of four compounds (-)-Ampelopsin F (1), Ampelopsin (2), Rhodomyrtone (3), and Phloretin (4). The chemical structures of the compounds were determined based on NMR spectra. Absolute configuration of (-)-Ampelopsin F (1) was elucidated based on ECD spectra. Simultaneously, the cytotoxic activity of the compounds was tested on four human cancer cell lines (MCF7, 5637, HEPG2, and A549). Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited cytotoxic activity against all the tested cell lines, in which compound 1 showed strongest activity with IC50 value of 15.20 +/- 0.16 mu m followed by compound 2 with IC50 of 17.20 +/- 0.02 mu m for MCF7 and 5637 cells, respectively. In contrast, the other two compounds showed no activity. This is the first study on the chemical composition of the D. harmandii species.