Structural Characterization and Hepatoprotective Activities of 2-(2-Phenylethyl)Chromone Derivatives from Highland Barley Monascus purpureus

Abstract

A novel 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone derivative, named 6,7-dimethoxy-2-[2-(3′ ,4′ ,5′ -trimethoxyphenyl)ethyl]chromone (1), and eight known 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone derivatives (2–9) were isolated from highland barley Monascus purpureus for the first time. Compounds 1–9 were determined by extensive spectroscopic data and reported references and they were evaluated for their hepatoprotective activities on L-O2 cells with Bifendatatum as the positive drug. As a result, compounds 1, 4, and 8 exhibited certain hepatoprotective activities.