New flavonoids from the roots of Sophora davidii (Franch.) Skeels and their glucose transporter 4 translocation activities.

Abstract Five new flavanones, davidones A-E (1–5), one new isoflavonoid, cyclolicoisoflavones A3 (8), together with seven known compounds were isolated from the petroleum ether and the ethyl acetate fractions of the roots of Sophora davidii (Franch.) Skeels. The structures of new compounds were established by 1D and 2D NMR and MS data. The absolute configuration of 1–5 was assigned by NMR calculations and comparing its experimental and calculated ECD spectra. Flavanones were the main active principles responsible for the glucose transporter 4 (GLUT-4) translocation activities of SD-PE and SD-EtOAc. Compounds 1–7 and acacetin (12) promoted GLUT-4 translocation by the range of 1.35–3.00 folds, respectively.