Phytochemical study on the EtOAc fraction from the MeOH extract of the leaves of Cedrela sinensis led to the isolation of five known phenolic compounds (1-5), whose structures were identified as (+)-catechin (1), kaempferol-3-0-α- L-rhamnopyranoside (2), quercetin (3), quercetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (4), and quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (5), respectively, by comparing their spectral (uv, JR, IH and 13C-NMR, and ESI-MS) and physicochemical data with those reported in the literature. Among the isolated compounds (1-5), compounds 1 and 3-5 exhibited significant DPPH radical scavenging effects with IC50 values ranging from 21.3±1.4 to 38.1±3.2 μM as well as superoxide anion radical scavenging effects with IC50 values ranging from 9.4±0.7 to 21.2±3.6 μM. Furthermore, compounds 1 and 3-5 also exhibited considerable inhibitory effects on LDL peroxidation induced by either CU2+ or AAPH with IC50 values ranging from 1.4±0.4 to 11.9±1.4 μM. These results indicated that flavonoids are the major constituents of C. sinensis and considered to be antioxidant principles of this plant.

• Ik-Soo Lee
• Chun-Hua Wei
• Phuong Thien Thoung
• Kyung-Sik Song
• Yeon-Hee Seong
• Ki-Hwan Bae