Two new flavonoids from the thorns of Gleditsia sinensis

Two new flavonoids, (2R,3R,7 '' R,8 ''S)-5 ''-methoxyl-silychristin A, (2R,3R,7 '' S,8 '' R)-5 ''-methoxyl-silychristin A, and two known analogues were isolated from the thorns of Gleditsia sinensis. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic data analysis. The absolute configurations of the new compounds were deduced by interpretation of the ECD spectra. The cytoprotective effects of the isolated compounds against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)induced apoptosis in normal rat kidney tubule epithelioid (NRK 52e) cells were investigated in vitro and the results showed that compounds 2 and 3 exhibited moderate protective effects with EC50 values of 10.5 and 8.3 mu M, respectively.

Automated summary

Two new flavonoids were isolated from Gleditsia sinensis thorns, with their structures determined by spectroscopic data and absolute configurations deduced through interpretation of ECD spectra. In vitro studies showed that these new compounds exhibited moderate cytoprotective effects against LPS-induced apoptosis.