Phenolic Constituents of Selaginella doederleinii

Eleven phenolic Compounds have been isolated from the ethanolic extract of SELAGINELLA DOEDERLEINII by a combination of Chromatographic techniques. These are five lignans: (-)-lirioresinol A, (-)-lirioresinol B, (+)-wikstromol, (-)-nortracheloside, (+)-matairesinol ( 1), two phenylpropanones: 3-hydroxy-1-(3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)-propan-1-one ( 2), 3-hydroxy-1-(3,5 -dimethoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)-propan-1-one ( 3), and four biflavonoids: amentoflavone, 7,7'-di- O-methylamentoflavone, 7,4',7',4'-tetra- O-methylamentoflavone, and heveaflavone ( 4). Compounds 1, 2, and 3 are novel natural secondary metabolites. Their structures were deduced from their spectral data (mainly (1)H-NMR, mass, and CD). Lignans are described here for the first time in the family Selaginellaceae. Their cytotoxic activity against L 929 murine cells accounts for the use of the plant in traditional Chinese medicine as an anticancer agent.