A new 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone derivative in Chinese agarwood ‘Qi-Nan’ from Aquilaria sinensis

Abstract

Phytochemical analysis of the high quality Chinese agarwood ‘Qi-Nan’ originating from Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Glig led to the isolation of a new 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone derivative, qinanones G (1), and four known 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromones (2–5). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic techniques (UV, IR, 1D and 2D NMR) and MS analyses. The NMR data of chromones 1–3 were first reported, and chromones 2 and 3 showed weak inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase.

Keywords::

• Qi-Nan
• agarwood
• Aquilaria sinensis
• 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone derivative
• AChE inhibitory activity

Acknowledgements

The author thanks Mr Xiao-Wu Zhang and Mr Mao-You Guan for a kind gift of the precious materials for this experiment. Meanwhile, this research was supported by Special Fund for Agro-scientific Research in the Public Interest (201303117), National Support Science and Technology Subject (2013BAI11B04), International Science and Technology cooperation projects of Hainan Province (2012-GH001), and Major Technology Project of Hainan Province (ZDZX2013013).