Isolation and structure elucidation of an isoflavone and a sesterterpenoic acid from Henriettella fascicularis.

A new isoflavone, 4',5,7-trihydroxy-6,8-dimethylisoflavone (1), and a new sesterterpenoic acid (2), together with five known compounds, lichexanthone (3), (-)-pinoresinol (4), betulinic acid, palmitic acid, and beta-sitosterol, were isolated from a dichloromethane extract of the branches of Henriettella fascicularis. Their structures were established by extensive spectroscopic methods. An attempt to determine the absolute stereochemistry of (2E,6S)-6-[(1R,5Z,3aS,9R,10Z,12aR)-1,2,3,3a,4,7,8,9,12,12a-decahydro-9-hydroxy-3a,6,10-trimethylcyclopentanocycloundecen-1-yl]-2-methylhept-2-enoic acid (2) was performed by single-crystal X-ray analysis, using Cu Kalpha radiation. Compound 1 showed significant competitive binding to estrogen receptor beta and moderate antiestrogenic activity with cultured Ishikawa cells.