Eriosema chinense: a rich source of antimicrobial and antioxidant flavonoids.

Six prenylated flavonoids, (2R,3S)-3,5,4'-trihydroxy-6″-6″dimethylpyrano(2″,3″:7,6)-8-(3″', 3″'-dimethylallyl)flavanone, (2R,3S)-3,5,2'-trihydroxy-4'-methoxy-6″,6″-dimethylpyrano(2″,3″:7,6)-8-(3″',3″'-dimethylallyl)flavanone, (2R,3R)-3,5,2',4'-tetrahydroxy-6″,6″-dimethylpyrano(2″,3″:7,6)-8-(3″',3″'-dimethylallyl)flavanone, 3,5,2',4'-tetrahydroxy-6″,6″-dimethylpyrano(2″,3″:7,6)-8-(3″',3″'-dimethylallyl)flavone, (2R,3R,2″'R)-3,5,2″'-trihydroxy-4'-methoxy-6″,6″-dimethylpyrano(2″,3″:7,6)-8-(3″'-methylbut-3″'-enyl)flavanone, (2R,3R)-3,5-dihydroxy-4'-methoxy-6″,6″-dimethylpyrano(2″,3″:7,6)-8-(2″',3″'-epoxy-3″'-methyl butyl)flavanone, an isoflavone, 6,7-dimethoxy-5,2',4'-trihydroxyisoflavone, and octaeicosanyl-trans-p-coumarate together with 12 known compounds, were isolated from roots of Eriosema chinense. This structural elucidation was determined by spectroscopic methods. Several isolates and derivatives were evaluated for their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Results obtained provide additional evidence showing that the presence of both the free phenolic OH and the lipophilic prenyl groups are crucial for potent antimicrobial activity against yeast, gram positive and gram negative bacteria, whereas the presence of free phenolic OH group is required for strong radical scavenging property.