Biological activity of serotonin conjugates from the seeds of Centaurea nigra

Two serotonin conjugates, N-(trans-p-coumaroyl)-serotonin (1) and N-(trans-feruloyl)serotonin (maoschamine, 2), isolated from the methanol extract of the seeds of Centaurea nigra, have been assessed for antibacterial and free radical scavenging activities. The general toxicity of 1 and 2 has also been determined by the brine shrimp lethality bioassay. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.