Chemical constituents from the seeds of Cassia obtusefolia and their in vitro α-glucosidase inhibitory and antioxidant activities

Basing on chromatographic separation techniques, fifteen aglycones (1-15), including two new anthraquinone aglycones (1, 2) and thirteen known compounds (3-15), were isolated from the small polar fraction of Cassia obtusefolia (petroleum ether extract). Structural elucidations were performed by 1D/2D NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The in vitro antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of these fifteen compounds were determined. Except compounds 12 (IC₅₀ 3.03 ± 0.31 μg/mL, stronger than ascorbic acid, which IC₅₀ was 6.48 ± 2.30 μg/mL) and 13 (IC₅₀ 78.40 ± 2.39 μg/mL), the free radical scavenging capacities of Other compounds were weak. Compounds 4, 5, 6 and 13 exhibited inhibitory activities on α-glucosidase with IC₅₀ values of 50.60 ± 1.10, 22.57 ± 0.07, 60.09 ± 1.40, and 80.01 ± 2.66 μg/mL separately, however, all the α-glucosidase inhibitory activities were weaker than positive control (acarbose).