Biological Activities of Methyl-4-(((2 E)-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienyl) oxy)-3-hydroxybenzoate

Plant Extracts Research Unit, New Zealand Institute for Crop & Food Research Ltd, Department of Chemistry, Otago University, New Zealand Department of Pharmacology, School of Oriental Me dicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 110-103, KoreaReceived August 20, 2003Methyl-4-[[(2E)-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienyl]oxy]-3-hydroxybenzoate (5) has been identified from the NewZealand liverwort Trichocolea hatcheri (T. hatcheri) on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. This compoundwas tested for its growth inhibitory effects against tumor cell lines, using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. It showed growth inhibition activity against Staphylococcusepidermidis (MIC, 1,000 µg/mL). These results suggest that compound 5 possesses antitumoral , antimicrobialand antioxidative activities. Key Words : Trichocolea hatcheri, MTT assay, Antitumoral, Antimicrobial and antioxidative activities IntroductionTrichocolea hatcheri which grows throughout New Zealand,is distinguished from T. mollissima by its smaller size, darkgreen color and prostrate habit.