Anti-BPH lignans from Urtica triangularis subsp. pinnatifida (Hand.-Mazz.) C.J.Chen

A new lignan named (-)-ginkgool-9-O-β-glucopyranoside (1) together with eight known lignans (2-9) were isolated from Urtica triangularis subsp. pinnatifida (Hand.-Mazz.) C.J.Chen. According to the mass spectrometry and spectroscopic analyses, the gross structure and absolute configuration of the new lignan were elucidated. The cytotoxic effects of compounds 1-9 on BPH-1 cells and the docking results on type II 5α-reductase were analysed to evaluate their anti-BPH activity. The results showed better anti-BPH activity that compound 4 displaying an IC50 of 79.75 ± 3.68 μM than finasteride presenting an IC50 of 91.8 ± 3.74 μM. Compounds 1, 2 and 5 had moderate anti-BPH activity compared with finasteride.