Cedrus deodara pine needle as a potential source of natural antioxidants: Bioactive constituents and antioxidant activities

In the present study, the bioactive constituents and antioxidant activity of Cedrus deodara pine needle were investigated. A new compound, 3-p-trans-coumaroyl-2-hydroxyquinic acid (1), and seven known compounds were isolated from the 50% methanol extract of C. deodara pine needle and their structures were identified by MS and extensive NMR data analyses. Quantitative analysis of the compounds was performed using HPLC. In DPPH and ABTS radicals scavenging capacities and cell-based antioxidant assay using erythrocytes, the extract, 1, protocatechuic acid (2), 2R,3R-dihydromyricetin (5), massonianoside B (7) and myricetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (8) showed potent antioxidant activity. Moreover, the extract restored the activities of antioxidant enzymes and reduced the level of lipid peroxidation of liver homogenates in CCl4-treated mice in the in vivo antioxidant assay. Overall, these results suggest that C. deodara pine needle can be useful as a source of natural antioxidants for nutraceutical and functional food applications.