Chemical constituents of the roots of Pottsia laxiflora

Two new natural products, 3-carbonyl-4-androstene-17-carboxylic acid (1) and trans-4-hydroxy-2-nonenoic acid (4), along with ten known compounds, were isolated from the genus Pottsia (Apocynaceae). Their structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic analysis, especially by means of 1D, 2D NMR and HR-ESI-MS analyses. All the compounds were isolated from the genus Pottsia for the first time. (+)Catechin (6), (–)epicatechin (7), cinnamtannin B-1 (11), and aesculitannin B (12) showed neuroprotective effects against corticosterone–induced neuronal SH-SY5Y cells and DPPH free-radical scavenging activity with EC50 of 16.2,12.7, 5.6, and 4.8 M.