Xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity of constituents of Cinnamomum cassia twigs

A methanol extract of the twigs of Cinnamomum cassia was found to inhibit xanthine oxidase. Purification of the methanol extract afforded three new phenolic glycosides, cinnacasolide A–C (11–13), together with 10 known compounds (1–10). The structures of the three new compounds were determined by interpretation of spectroscopic data. Cinnamaldehyde derivatives 1−5 and 7 were significant inhibitors of xanthine oxidase, with IC50 values ranging from 7.8 to 36.3 μg/mL. The results indicate that the acyl group of these cinnamaldehyde derivatives plays an important role in the inhibition of xanthine oxidase.

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