Five undescribed plant-derived bisphenols from Artemisia capillaris aerial parts: Structure elucidation, anti-hepatoma activities and plausible biogenetic pathway

Yin-Chen, which belongs to the Asteraceae family and the genus Artemisia, is among the most abundantly used traditional medicines in China for the treatment of hepatitis and bilious disorder. Herein, five undescribed plant-derived bisphenols, capillarisenols A–E (13, 15, 25, 29, 31), and one undescribed phenolic compound (32), together with 32 known phenolic compounds (1–12, 14, 16–24, 26–28, 30, 33–38), were isolated and identified based on spectroscopic evidence from aerial parts of Artemisia capillaris Thunb. Capillarisenols A–E are the type of bisphenols firstly isolated from this plant. The plausible biogenetic pathway of new compounds was also proposed. In addition, the potential anti-hepatoma effects on Huh7 and HepG2 cell lines of all isolated compounds were evaluated in vitro. Capillarisenol C (25) showed significant anti-hepatoma activity in Huh7 and HepG 2 cells, with IC50 values of 4.96 and 8.58 μM, better than the positive control drug (Lenvatinib). This study provided phytochemical evidence for further development and utilisation of A. capillaris in health products.