Ampelopsins E, E, H and cis-ampelopsin E, oligostilbenes from Ampelopsis brevipedunculata var. Hancei roots

The methanol extract of the roots of Ampelopsis brevipedunculata var. hancei exhibited marked protective activity against carbon tetrachloride and d-galactosamine-induced liver damage in primary cultured rat hepatocytes. The extract was fractionated by monitoring the activity to give active fractions from which four novel oxidative oligostilbenes, ampelopsins D, E, H and cis-ampelopsin E, were isolated in addition to the known compounds, (-)-epicatechin, pallidol, miyabenol C, piceid, cis-piceid and resveratroloside. The structures of the new stilbene derivatives have been established on the basis of spectroscopic evidence and chemical reactions. Among them, ampelopsin E and cis-ampelopsin E showed antihepatotoxic activity.