Dracomolphesin A–E, five 3,4-seco-phenylpropanoids with Nrf2 inducing activity from Dracocephalum moldavica

Abstract Dracomolphesin A–E (1–5), five 3,4-seco-phenylpropanoids featuring an aromatic ring opened framework, were isolated from the aerial parts of Dracocephalum moldavica. The structures with absolute configurations were determined by spectroscopic methods coupled with Mosher method. Notably, these compounds represented an example of aromatic ring cleavage products of phenylpropanoids. The possible biosynthetic pathway of these compounds was proposed. Compounds 1, 2, 4 and 5 were demonstrated to be Nrf2 pathway activators.