Chemotaxonomically significant phytochemicals with α-glucosidase and tyrosinase inhibitory activities from Chinese endemic plant

Ophiorrhiza hunanica is one uninvestigated species without any record of chemical constituents or biological effects. In this study, ten compounds with diverse structural types were obtained. Notably, six components have not been reported previously from the plants of the genus Ophiorrhiza. The chemotaxonomic significance of these chemical constituents was extensively discussed. Furthermore, triterpene 3 displayed moderate α-glucosidase inhibition (IC50 = 0.26 mM). Meanwhile, compounds 2, 3, 5 and 6 showed different levels of tyrosinase inhibitory activities, of which 3 had the best activity (IC50 = 15.3 µM). Molecular docking experiment was employed to detect the binding mode between the most active compound 3 and tyrosinase. This study not only filled up the knowledge gap of the chemical and pharmacological profiles of the species O. hunanica, but also indicated the potential application of this species in pharmaceutical and cosmetical industries.