A new benzofuran derivative glycoside and a new coumarin glycoside from roots of Heracleum dissectum Ledeb

Heracleum dissectum Ledeb. is an ethnic herb used by Oroqen people in Northeast China. The roots of this plant are usually used for treatment of several diseases. However, chemical constituents and pharmacological study were rarely reported. In this present study, phytochemical investigation of H. dissectum methanolic extract (HdME) led to the isolation of a new benzofuran derivative glycoside, 6-methoxycarbonylethyl-benzofuran-5-O-β-d-xylopyranosyl (1 → 2)-β-d-glucopyranoside (1) and a new coumarin glycoside, 6″-β-d-glucopyranosyl-apterin (2). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of physicochemical properties and the detailed interpretation of various spectroscopic data. Adipogenesis accumulating activity was assayed in 3T3-L1 cells. Compound 2 could potently accelerate the accumulation of triglycerides (TG) in 3T3-L1 adipocytes in which TG concentrations were 15.6 ± 2.3, 26.8 ± 1.8, and 35.6 ± 2.6% higher than those of the control group at the concentration of 3, 10, and 30 μM, respectively. In contrast, compound 1 exhibited comparatively weak activity on TG accumulation in adipocytes. This result denoted that the new compound 2 might possess antidiabetic activity in vivo.