| Abstract: | Activity-guided fractionation of the EtOAc-soluble extract of the stems of Couepia ulei, using a bioassay based on the induction of quinone reductase (QR) in cultured Hepa 1c1c7 mouse hepatoma cells led to the isolation of two active compounds, a new natural product, erythro-2,3-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3-ethoxypropan-1-ol (1), and a known compound, evofolin-B (2), along with five inactive compounds all of known structure, viz., betulinic acid, oleanolic acid, pomolic acid, (+/-)-syringaresinol, and ursolic acid. These isolates were identified by analysis of physical and spectral data. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited QR inducing activity, with observed CD (concentration required to double induction) values of 16.7 and 16.4 microM, respectively. |
