Identification and ecdysteroid antagonist activity of three resveratrol trimers (suffruticosols A, B and C) from Paeonia suffruticosa

Abstract Bioassay-guided HPLC analysis of the seeds of Paeonia suffruticosa has afforded three novel resveratrol trimers (suffruticosol A, suffruticosol B and suffruticosol C), together with cis -resveratrol and paeoniflorin. The structures of these new compounds have been elucidated mainly by comprehensive 1D- and 2D-NMR experiments. Resveratrol and its oligomers are active as ecdysteroid antagonists (ED 50 values = 10 to 50 μ M vs. 5 × 10 −8 M 20-hydroxyecdysone) in the Drosophila melanogaster B II bioassay. The activities of other “pseudo-oestrogens” in this bioassay have also been assessed.