New Flavonoids from the Leaves and Stems of Cinnamomum Reticulatum Hayate: Antioxidation and Antiproliferation Assay

The present study examined the anti-oxidation and anti-proliferation activity of the two new flavonoids compounds in cancer cells. Cinnamomum species have been used as important sources of traditional medicine, timber, edible fruits, spices, and perfumes in China for a long history. Cinnamoum reticulatum Hayata (Lauraceae) is an indigenous tree species in Taiwan. We further isolated the two flavonoids compounds kaempferol-3-O-(2",4"-di-E-p-coumaroyl)- -L-rhamnopyranoside (1) and kaempferol-3-O-(3",4"-di-E-p-coumaroyl)- -L-rhamnopyranoside (2) from the leaves and stems of C. reticulatum Hayate. The phytochemical characteristics, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of the two compounds were evaluated. Kaempferol-3-O-(2",4"-di-E-p-coumaroyl)- -L-rhamnopyranoside (1) and kaempferol-3-O-(3",4"-di-E-p-coumaroyl)- -L-rhamnopyranoside (2) have antiproliferation activity in lung cancer cell line (A549 and NCI-H460) and breast cancer cell line (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231). However, (1) displays better antioxidant activity than (2). Our results showed that the two flavonoids from C. reticulatum might have good potential for further development as chemoprevention or antioxidant remedies. Flavonoids possess anti-oxidative effects as free radical scavengers and metal ion cheaters properties associated with the phenolic hydroxyl groups attached to ring structures. Intensity of the antioxidant activity of a flavonoid strongly depends on its chemical structure.