In vitro biological activity of prenylflavanones

The biological activity of ten prenylflavanones purified from Sophora tomen tosa L., and Sophora moorcroftiana Benth. ew Baker (Leguminosae) was invest igated. The flavanones with penyl-, lavandulyl- or geranyl groups on A ring , and two bioactive flavonostilbenes on ring B and stilbene (resveratrol) s howed tumor-specific cytotoxic activity antimicrobial activity and anti-HIV activity, radical generation, and O-2(-) scavenging activity. There was a positive relationship between radical gene ration and O-2(-) scavenging act ivity in these plenylflavanones. These data suggest the medicinal significa nce of plenylflavanones.