Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl (family: Lauraceae), commonly known as the camphor tree, is one of the most common species in subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest widespread in southern China [1]. All parts of C. camphora contain a special aroma and volatile oil that has been used as a insect repellant and as an antibacterial agent [2]. Pharmacological studies have revealed that the plant possesses a wide range of bioactive properties. Previous phytochemical investigation of the genus Cinnamomum has resulted in the isolation and structural elucidation of essential oil compounds, lignans, flavones and polyphenols [3]. However, no research has focussed on the secondary metabolites of C. camphora roots.
In the current work, phytochemical investigations of C. camphora roots led to the isolation and purification of seven known compounds, including oleanolic acid (1), β-sitosterol (2), daucosterol(3), tricosanoic acid (4), dimethylmatairesinol (5), and luteolin (6), luteolin-7-O-β-D-glucoside (7), tricetin-7-methyl ether (8), and quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucoside (9). Their structures were elucidated by MS and 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, as well as comparison with literature data. All the nine compounds (1~9) were isolated for the first time from C. camphora roots, and compounds 4, 6, 7 and 8 have previously never been reported from Lauraceae.
Acknowledgements: This work was funded by the Science Foundation for Young Doctors of Jiangxi academy of science (2016-YYB-07), the Science and Technology Major Project Foundation of Jiangxi Academy of Sciences (2018- YZD2-18) . Foundation of Key Project of Research and Development Program of Jiangxi Province (No. 20171BBH80017)
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