Bio-assay guided isolation and identification of α-glucosidase inhibitors from the leaves of Aquilaria sinensis

Abstract

Eight α-glucosidase inhibitors including four new compounds were isolated from the 70% aqueous ethanolic extract of leaves of Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Gilg by activity-directed fractionation and purification processes. The ethanolic extract was first separated into petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and water soluble fractions and screened for inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase. Further activity-directed investigation lead to the isolation of four new compounds with moderate inhibitory activity, viz, aquilarisinin (1), aquilarisin (2), hypolaetin 5-O-β-D-glucuronopyranoside (3) and aquilarixanthone (4) from the n-butanol fraction, and four known compounds showing potent activity including mangiferin (5), iriflophenone 2-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (6), iriflophenone 3-C-β-D-glucoside (7) and iriflophenone 3,5-C-β-D-diglucopyranoside (8) from the most potent ethyl acetate fraction. The structures of these compounds were determined by extensive spectroscopic analyses, including IR, UV, ESIMS, HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR.