Lignans from the Roots of Berberis amurensis

Column chromatographic separation of the alcoholic extract from the roots of Berberis amurensis yielded eight phenolic constituents including six lignans, hanultarin (1), (-)-secoisolariciresinol (3), (+)-lyoniresinol (5), (+)-syringaresinol (6), (+)-syringaresinol-O--D-glucopyranoside (7), liriodendrin (8), and two phenylpropanoids, 4-glucosyloxy-3-methoxyphenyl trans-propenoic ethyl ester (2), trans-ferulic acid (4). The structures were determined on the basis of NMR spectroscopic data. All isolated compounds(1-8) were reported for the first time from this source. Compound 1 exhibited moderate cytotoxicity against four human cancer cell lines in vitro using sulforhodamin B bioassay.