New anthracene glycosides from Rhodomyrtus tomentosa stimulate osteoblastic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells

Two new anthracene glycosides (1, 2) were isolated from aerial parts of Rhodomyrtus tomentosa, along with three known compounds (3–5). The structures of two new compounds were established to be 4,8,9,10-tetrahydroxy-2,3,7-trimethoxyanthracene-6-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1) and 2,4,7,8,9,10-hexahydroxy-3-methoxyanthracene-6-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (2) based on spectroscopic and chemical methods. Among them, compound 1, 2, and 5 significantly (P<0.05) increased the alkaline phosphatase activity, collagen synthesis, and mineralization of the nodules of MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells compared to those of the control, respectively.