Phenylpropanoid compounds as well as preparation method and application thereof

The invention discloses phenylpropanoid compounds as well as a preparation method and an application thereof. The phenylpropanoid compounds are separated from Swertia atroviolacea, are named 3-hydroxy-1-(6-hydroxymethyl-1,3-dihydroisobenzofuran-5-yl)propan-1-one and have the structural formula shown in the specification, and a molecular formula of the phenylpropanoid compounds is C12H14O4. The preparation method of the phenylpropanoid compounds comprises the following steps: the Swertia atroviolacea is taken as the raw material and subjected to extract extraction, MCI decoloration, silica gel column chromatography and HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography) separation. 5 alpha-reductase activity tests prove that the phenylpropanoid compounds have better inhibition function on 5 alpha-reductase. The invention further discloses the preparation method and the application of the phenylpropanoid compounds. The compounds are simple in structure, have better 5 alpha-reductase inhibition function and can serve as lead compounds for preparing 5 alpha-reductase inhibitors.