Two new coumarin glycosides from Chimonanthus nitens

Abstract

Two new coumarin glycosides, namely nitensosides A–B (1–2), together with six known compounds, scopolin (3), 5,6,7-trimethoxycoumarin (4), d-calycanthine (5), calycanthoside (6), xeroboside (7), and scopoletin (8), were isolated from Chimonanthus nitens. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by comprehensive analysis of IR, MS, and NMR spectroscopic data. Compounds 3, 4, 7, and 8 showed moderate inhibitory activity against Micrococcus luteus.

Keywords:

• Chimonanthus nitens
• coumarin glycosides
• antimicrobial activities
• nitensoside A
• nitensoside B

Acknowledgments

The research was financially funded by the Natural Science Foundation Committee of China (309736 20) and Guizhou Science and Technology Department (2011-2310).

Notes

^1. The description of Chinese Miao Minzu medicine: the Chinese Miao Minzu, also known as Miao minority or Hmong, has a population of approximately 8 million in China. Majority of them can be found in the provinces of Guizhou, part of Sichuan, Yunnan, Hunan, and Guangxi province. They have a long history of using herbs to protect health, treat illness, and have gradually established their own theoretical system of medicinal uses. In Chinese Miao Minzu medicine theory, medicines can be divided into three categories: hot medicines, cold medicines, and the He Xing medicine that is between the hot and the cold ones. The hot medicines can be used to treat ‘cold’ diseases, the cold medicines can be used to treat ‘hot’ diseases, whereas the He Xing medicines can be used to vitalize, strengthen, and rejuvenate the entire body. The Chinese Miao Minzu medicine theory could be described as ‘offset’ method, which is very similar to the ‘Yin and Yang’ theory of Chinese traditional medicines, in order to mobilize body's own defense system to treat illness.