ANTIOXIDANT AND LIPOPHILIC CONSTITUENTS OF TINOSPORA-CRISPA

TLC autographic assays revealed in the CH2Cl2 extract of Tinospora cri spo Miers (Menispermaceae) the presence of three compounds exhibiting antioxidant and radical scavenging properties towards beta-carotene an d 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical. They were isolated and identified as N-cisferuloyltyramine (4), N-trans-feruloyltyramine (6) and secoisolariciresinol (5). When tested in dilution assays on the r eduction of the DPPH radical, these 3 compounds proved to be more acti ve than the synthetic antioxidant butylhydroxytoluene (BHT). Further i nvestigation of the CH2Cl2 extract led to the isolation of vanillin, s yringin, the alkaloid N-formylnornuciferin and the diterpene derivativ es borapetosides B and C. In addition, a LC/UV/MS analysis enabled the on-line identification of borapetoside F and N-formylannonain.