Antioxidative components of Psoralea corylifolia (Leguminosae).

A meroterpene and four flavonoids were isolated from the seeds of Psoralea corylifolia as antioxidative components. Their structures were elucidated by spectral data and identified as bakuchiol (1), bavachinin (2), bavachin (3), isobavachin (4) and isobavachalcone (5). In particular, meroterpene 1 and flavonoids 4 and 5 showed broad antioxidative activities in rat liver microsomes and mitochondria. They inhibited NADPH-, ascorbate-, t-BuOOH- and CCl(4)-induced lipid peroxidation in microsomes. They also prevented NADH-dependent and ascorbate-induced mitochondrial lipid peroxidation. Bakuchiol (1) was the most potent antioxidant in microsomes and the inhibition of oxygen consumption induced by lipid peroxidation was time-dependent. Furthermore, bakuchiol (1) protected human red blood cells against oxidative haemolysis. These phenolic compounds in P. corylifolia were shown to be effective in protecting biological membranes against various oxidative stresses. Copyright 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.