ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of Hypericum uralum were isolated and identified and test the analgesic activity and β-hematin formation inhibitory activity of some selected compounds. METHODS: The compounds were isolated and purified by column chromatography padded with the separating material including silica gel and Sephadex LH-20, and their structures were elucidated based on the analyses of modern spectrum technology. Analgesic and antimalarial activities of selected compounds from H. uralum were evaluated by acetic acid-induced writhing, hot water tail-flick test in mice, and β-hematin formation inhibition method, respectively. RESULTS: Thirteen compounds were isolated from ethyl acetate portion of 95% ethanol extract of H. uralum and identified as (-)-eriodictyol (1), 3,4,5-trihydroxyxanthone (2), 1,7-dihydroxyxanthone (3), 4-hydroxy-2,3-dimethoxyxanthone (4), toxyloxanthone B (5), 1,3,6,7-tetrahydroxyxanthone (6), 2,3-dimethoxyxanthone (7), 1,5,6-trihydroxy-3-methoxyxanthone (8), hyperielliptone HD (9), 3,3′,4,4′-tetrahydroxybiphenyl (10), shikimic acid (11), quercetin-3-O-(4″-methoxy)-α-L-rahmnopyranosyl (12), and proanthocyanidin A-2 (13). The analgesic activity test indicated that compounds 3 and 12 had certain peripheral analgesic activity, while compound 1 exhibited strong β-hematin formation inhibitory activity. CONCLUSION: All the compounds are obtained from this plant for the first time.The analgesic and antimalarial activities of H. uralum have corresponding material basis.