An isocoumarin with hepatoprotective activity in Hep G2 and primary hepatocytes from Agrimonia pilosa.

Phytochemical investigation of the aqueous extract of the roots of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb. (Rosaceae), as guided by hepatoprotective activity in vitro, furnished two isocoumarins, agrimonolide (1) and agrimonolide 6-O-beta-D-glucoside (3), and (+)-catechin (2). Compound 1 showed hepatoprotective effects on both tacrine-induced cytotoxicity in human liver-derived Hep G2 cells and tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced cytotoxicity in rat primary hepatocytes with EC50 values of 88.2 +/- 2.8 and 37.7 +/- 1.6 microM, respectively.