Hepatoprotective constituents of Cudrania tricuspidata.

Phytochemical investigation of the MeOH extract of the root barks of Cudrania tricuspidata Bureau (Moraceae), as guided by hepatoprotective activity in vitro, furnished four isoprenylated xanthones, cudratricusxanthone A (1), cudraxanthone L (2), cudratricusxanthone E (3), and macluraxanthone B (4). All of these compounds showed the significant hepatoprotective effect on tacrine-induced cytotoxicity in human liver-derived Hep G2 cells. Compounds 1, 2, and 4 also exhibited the significant hepatoprotective effect on nitrofurantoin-induced cytotoxicity in human liver-derived Hep G2 cells.