Isolation, characterization and chemobiological quantification of α-glucosidase enzyme inhibitory and free radical scavenging constituents from Derris scandens Benth

The hexane and chloroform extracts of Derris scandens have displayed potent alpha-glucosidase inhibitory and moderate free radical scavenging activities. Phytochemical investigation of the active extracts led to the isolation of three new prenylated isoflavones, isoscandinone, scandenin A and scandenin B in addition to scandenone, scandinone and 4', 5', 7-trihydroxybiprenylisoflavone as the main constituents, having alpha-glucosidase enzyme inhibitory and free radical scavenging properties. A reversed-phase HPLC method is developed to quantify these active principles in the plant material, which can serve as an effective quality control method for standardization of D. scandens. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.