Phenolic constituents with inhibitory activity against NFAT transcription from Desmos chinensis

Six phenolic constituents, 2-methoxybenzyl benzoate (1), negletein (2), 2',3'-dihydroxy-4',6'-dimethoxydihydrochalcone (3), 5,6-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-dihydroflavone (4), astilbin (5), and quercitrin (6) were isolated from the methanol extract of the dried leaves of Desmos chinensis. Their structures were elucidated from spectral and chemical data. Of these constituents, compounds 2 (IC50: 3.89 +/- 0.39 mu M) and 3 (IC50: 9.77 +/- 0.26 mu M) exhibited potent inhibitory activity against nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) transcription factor, and compound 1 (IC50: 28.4 +/- 2.62 mu M) exhibited moderate inhibitory activity.