Bioactive flavonoid dimers from Chinese dragon's blood, the red resin of Dracaena cochinchinensis

Abstract Seven flavonoid dimers, biflavocochins A-G, together with six known compounds were isolated from the red resins of Dracaena cochinchinensis (Chinese dragon′s blood). Their structures were elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic analysis. The absolute configurations of 1-7 was assigned by experimental and quantum chemical calculated ECD spectra, and that of 4 was further established by X-ray diffraction analysis using Cu Kα radiation. Compounds 1-3 are novel dimers of homoisoflavonoid and dihydrochalcone with a unique dibenzopyran ring. Compounds 2, 6, 7 exhibited moderate PTP1B inhibitory activities in an enzyme assay. Compound 1 showed neuroprotective effect on serum deficiency-induced cellular damage in PC12 cells.