Flavonoids from Pronephrium megacuspe

Abstract

A chemical investigation of the whole plant of Pronephrium megacuspe (Bak.) Holtt. led to the isolation of four flavonoids, pronephrones A–D (1–4), which were firstly reported. The chemical structures of four compounds were established using spectroscopic methods. These isolates were further evaluated for cytotoxicity to ovarian cells of Spodoptera litura Fabricius.

Keywords:

• Pronephrium megacuspe
• Thelypteridaceae
• pronephrones A–D
• cytotoxicity

Acknowledgements

We thank Prof. Zhong Y.C. for his valuable assistance in identifying the plant material.

Additional information

Funding

This work was financially supported by Grants from the National Department Public Benefit Research Foundation of China [grant number 200903052].