A New 2-(2-Phenylethyl)Chromone From Aquilaria sinensis

A new 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone, 5-hydroxy-8-methoxy-2-[2-(4′methoxyphenyl)-ethyl]chromone (1), was isolated from Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Spreng., together with six other known compounds. Their structures were elucidated by analysis of spectroscopic data. The antibacterial activities of these compounds were determined, with compounds 6 and 7 showing significant antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus, and compound 1 exhibiting the best activity against MRSA out of all the isolated compounds. Structure activity relationship analysis revealed that it is crucial for antibacterial activity that the A-ring is substituted.