Isolation and identification of antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory compounds from fruit juice of Nitraria tangutorum

•The phytochemical research on the fruit juice of Nitraria tangutorum was carried out.•Sixteen alkaloids including four new glucose-derived β-carbolines were isolated.•Ten non-alkaloids including a new compound were obtained.•The biogenetic pathways of 1-8 were proposed.•Antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of all isolates were tested.

Nitraria tangutorum Bor., having edible berries, is valued for reputed health benefits in Qinghai-Tibet plateau. The phytochemical research on the fruit juice of N. tangutorum led to the isolation of twenty-six compounds including five new compounds, tangutorids A-D (1, 2, 3a, and 3b), and (3E,5E)-7-O-β-glucosyl-4-(2-methoxy-2-oxoethyl)hepta-3,5-dienoic acid (15). The structures of these compounds were elucidated through comprehensive spectroscopic analyses. Tangutorids A-F were the first examples of glucose-derived β-carbolines from natural products. The biogenetic pathways of 1-8 were proposed to involve Pictet-Spengler reactions and described starting from the co-isolated tryptophan (10) and corresponding aldehydes. All isolates were evaluated for their antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. Compounds 21, 22, and 24 showed antioxidant activity with SC50 values ranging from 12.2 ± 1.9 to 30.4 ± 2.7 μg/mL, and compound 1 showed strong α-glucosidase inhibitory effect with IC50 value of 63.3 ± 4.6 μg/mL.