Pterocarpans from the root bark of Aeschynomene fascicularis

Abstract

A new pterocarpan, aeschynocarpin (1), and the known pterocarpan 2-methoxymedicarpin (2) were isolated for the first time from Aeschynomene fascicularis (Fabaceae) and their structures elucidated by means of spectroscopic {UV/Vis, IR, and NMR (1H, 13C, COSY, HMQC, and HMBC)} and mass spectrometric (EI-MS and HRCIMS) techniques. Both compounds were tested in vitro for their cytotoxic and antiproliferative activities against a panel of cancer cell lines. This is the first report on the presence of pterocarpans in the genus Aeschynomene.