RESUMO
Objective: To investigate the chemical constituents from the stems of Clausena emarginata. Methods: The compounds were isolated by macroporous resin, silica gel, ODS column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20, reversed-phase MPLC, and then purified by preparative HPLC. Their structures were determined by the analysis of ultraviolet spectrum, mass spectrum, and NMR spectrum. Neuroprotective activities of compounds 11 and 12 were initially investigated. Results: Sixteen compounds were isolated from the petroleum ether and acetone fractions of 95% ethanol extract of the stems of Cl. emarginata, and their structures were identified as 1H-Indole-3-carboxaldehyde (1), E-N-benzoiltiramine (2), dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol (3), tortoside A (4), zhebeiresinol (5), evofolin B (6), 2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (7), echipuroside A (8), 3-methylcarbazole (9), murrayafoline A (10), clausine Z (11), indizoline (12), clausenaline B (13), mafaicheenamine A (14), dictamnine (15), and honokiol (16). Conclusion: Compounds 1-8 are isolated from the plants of genus Clausena L. for the first time, compounds 1-16 are isolated from this plant for the first time. Compounds 11 and 12 show the neuroprotective activity against rotenone induced PC12 cell damage.