Two new phenylpropanoids isolated from the rhizomes of Alpinia galanga

AIM: To study the chemical constituents and bioactivity of the rhizomes of Alpinia galangal Willd. (Zingiberaceae). METHODS: The chemical constituents were isolated using various chromatographic methods and crystallization, and the chemical structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis. In addition, cytotoxic activities toward four tumor cell lines (HepG2, EC109, A549 and Vero) were tested by MTT method. RESULTS: Six phenylpropanoids were obtained and their structures were identified as (S)-1'-ethoxy chavicol acetate (1), (E)-4-acetoxy cinnamyl ethyl ether (2), (E)-4-hydroxycinnamaldehyde (3), (E)-4-acetoxy cinnamyl alcohol (4), 4-acetoxy cinnamyl acetate (5), and 4, 4'(2E, 2'E)-bis(prop-2-ene)-1, 1'-oxy-diphenyl-7, 7'-diacetate (6). CONCLUSION: Compounds 1 and 2 were two new phenylpropanoids. Compound 5 shows selective cytotoxic activity on human lung adenocarcinoma cell A549 (IC50 19.35 molL-1).