Biologically active bergenin derivatives from Bergenia stracheyi.

New bergenin derivatives, bergecins A and B (1 and 2, resp.), have been isolated from the AcOEt-soluble fraction of Bergenia stracheyi, along with bergenin (3), and their structures were elucidated on the basis of (1) H- and (13) C-NMR spectra, and by COSY, HMQC, and HMBC experiments. Compound 2 showed potent inhibitory potential against the enzyme lipoxygenase, while 1 was moderately active. On the other hand, both compounds exhibited significant antioxidant activities in 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging assay.