Structure, absolute configuration and cytotoxicity of compounds isolated from Decaschistia harmandii

Phytochemical study of Decaschistia harmandii led to the identification of four compounds (−)‐Ampelopsin F ( 1 ), Ampelopsin ( 2 ), Rhodomyrtone ( 3 ), and Phloretin ( 4 ). The chemical structures of the compounds were determined based on NMR spectra. Absolute configuration of (−)‐Ampelopsin F ( 1 ) was elucidated based on ECD spectra. Simultaneously, the cytotoxic activity of the compounds was tested on four human cancer cell lines (MCF7, 5637, HEPG2, and A549). Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited cytotoxic activity against all the tested cell lines, in which compound 1 showed strongest activity with IC 50 value of 15.20 ± 0.16 µ m followed by compound 2 with IC 50 of 17.20 ± 0.02 µ m for MCF7 and 5637 cells, respectively. In contrast, the other two compounds showed no activity. This is the first study on the chemical composition of the D. harmandii species.