Flavonoids and biological activities of Jussiaea repens.

A new acylated avicularin, namely avicularin 2''-(4'''-O-n-pentanoyl)-gallate (1) along with 12 metabolites have been isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of the aerial parts of Jussiaea repens L. (Onagraceae). Their structures were established as trifolin 2''-O-gallate (2), quercetrin (3), guaijaverin (4), reynoutrin (5), juglanin (6), avicularin (7), hyperin (8), trifolin (9), hyperin 2''-O-gallate (10), rutin (11), kaempferol (12) and quercetin (13) on the basis of their chromatographic properties, chemical and spectroscopic evidences. The investigated ethyl acetate extract was found to be non-toxic (LD(50) up to the maximum soluble dose 4 g kg(-1) body wt.) and had significant antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic activities. Also some of the isolated flavonoids showed cytotoxic activity against Ehrlich ascitis carcinoma cells.