In the aim to evaluate the functional food property of Cinnamomum bejolghota, seven new lignans and neolignans, bejolghotins A-G (1-4 and 9-11), along with 14 known ones (5-8 and 12-21), were isolated and their structures including absolute configurations were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic data and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) analyses. All of the isolates were tested for antioxidant and human cancer cell proliferation inhibitory activities. Twenty compounds showed comparable antioxidant activity to the positive controls, and three significantly inhibited the growth of three cancer cell lines HCT-116, A549, and MDA-MB-231 with IC50 values of 0.78-2.93 μM, which confirmed its health benefits.
Keywords: Cinnamomum bejolghota; antioxidant activity; human cancer cell proliferation inhibition; lignans; neolignans.