Figure 1. DPPH scavenging effects of the EtOH extract (
A), EtOAc layer (
B), and H
2O layer (
C) H
2O layer of the persimmon leaves; (
D) online ABTS-HPLC chromatogram of the EtOH extract.
3. Phytochemical Investigation
To identify these antioxidative compounds, various chromatographic and spectroscopic methods were carried out for the isolation and structural characterization of the compounds. A new flavonoid (
1) and a new natural compound (
3) were obtained from the ethyl acetate layer of the ethanol extract, together with 25 previously reported compounds, namely kaempferol-3-
O-
β-2″-coumaroylglucoside (
2)
[16], (+)-catechin (
4)
[17], hyperoside (
5)
[17], isoquercitrin (
6)
[18], quercetin-3-
O-
β-2″-galloylgalactoside (
7)
[19], quercetin-3-
O-
β-2″-galloylglucoside (
8)
[20], trifolin (
9)
[18], astragalin (
10)
[18], kaempferol-3-
O-
β-2″-galloylgalactoside (
11)
[21], kaempferol-3-
O-
α-arabinoside (
12)
[22], kaempferol-3-
O-
β-2″-galloylglucoside (
13)
[23], quercetin-3-
O-
β-2″-coumaroylglucoside (
14)
[24], quercetin (
15) [15], kaempferol (
16)
[25], (6
S,9
S)-roseoside (
17)
[26], scopoletin (
18)
[27], umbelliferone (
19)
[28], 1-(2,4-dihydroxy-6-methylphenyl)ethanone (
20)
[29], barbinervic acid (
21)
[30], diospyric acid B (
22)
[7], rotungenic acid (
23)
[31], pomolic acid (
24)
[32], siaresinolic acid (
25)
[33], oleanolic acid (
26)
[25], and ursolic acid (
27)
[25] by using spectroscopic and spectrometric and physical data in comparison with the published data and also with thin layer chromatography (TLC) analysis (
Figure 2 and
Figure 3). Among these, compounds
2,
16,
17,
19,
20, and
24 were firstly isolated from
D. kaki.
Figure 2. Structures of the compounds isolated from D. kaki leaves.
Figure 3. HPLC chromatogram of the EtOH extract from the persimmon leaves.
Compound
1 was obtained as a yellow powder, in which the molecular formula was established as C
30H
26O
13 based on high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) data. The UV spectrum exhibited absorption bands at 207 and 315 nm, indicating that compound
1 had a flavonol backbone. The
1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data (
Table 1,
Figure S1) showed a typical pattern of coumaroylated flavonol glycoside, showing two sets of AA′BB′-type signals (
δH 8.00 (2H, d,
J = 8.5 Hz, H-2′ and H-6′), 6.87 (2H, d,
J = 8.5 Hz, H-3′ and H-5′)) in the B ring of kaempferol as well as the signals (
δH 7.45 (2H, d,
J = 8.5 Hz, H-2′′′ and H-6′′′), 6.81 (2H, d,
J = 8.5 Hz, H-3′′′ and H-5′′′)) in the aromatic ring of the coumaroyl group. Two doublet signals (
δH 7.65 (1H, d,
J = 15.5 Hz, H-7′′′)) and
δH 6.35 (1H, d,
J = 16.0 Hz, H-8′′′) were observed, indicating
trans-olefinic protons of the coumaroyl group. Additionaly, an anomeric proton signal (
δH 5.57 (1H, d,
J = 8.0 Hz, H-1′′)) was observed in the sugar region, suggesting the presence of the
β-configurated cyclic sugar group. The
13C and distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer NMR data (
Table 1,
Figure S2) showed 30 resonances comprising two
trans-olefinic carbons, ten aromatic carbons, and six glucosyl moiety carbons, and ten non-protonated carbons including two carbonyl carbons. In particular, the chemical shifts at C-2, C-3, and C-4 (
δC 158.1, 134.9, and 179.2) were characteristic signals of flavonol 3-
O-glycoside. Additionally, the carbonyl carbon signal at C-1′′′ (
δC 168.7) and two
trans-olefinic carbon signals at C-2′′′ and C-3′′′ (
δC 146.9, 115.2) were typical chemical shifts of the coumaroyl group. The anomeric carbon signal at C-1′′(
δC 100.4) and other signals for the glycosyl moiety from C-2′′ to C-6′′ (
δC 74.3, 73.4, 70.5, 77.4, and 62.0) were observed. These one-dimensional (1D) NMR data were superimposable to those of kaempferol-3-
O-
β-2′′-coumaroylglucoside (
2)
[16]. However, the careful comparison of the
13C NMR data between the two compounds suggested that compound
1 had a galactose moiety, which was further demonstrated by the nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy (NOESY) NMR data (
Figure S6). While the NOESY correlation between H-2′′ and H-4′′ was observed in compound
2, there was no correlation between these protons in compound
1. In general, interpreting
13C NMR and NOESY NMR data is an effective method to determine the type of glycosyl moiety. The location of the galactose moiety was deduced to be at C-3 according to the downfield shift of C-2 and C-4, as further evidenced by the heteronuclear multiple bond correlation (HMBC) between H-1′′ and C-3 (
Figure S5). The position of the coumaroyl group was demonstrated to be at C-2′′ based on the downfield shift (
δH 5.36 (1H, dd,
J = 10.0, 8.0 Hz, H-2′′)) and the HMBC correlation between H-2′′ and C-1′′′. As a result, the structure of compound
1 was determined as kaempferol-3-
O-
β-2″-coumaroylgalactoside. Although compound
2 was previously isolated from various sources, including
Quercus suber [16] and
Allium porrum [34], compound
1 was isolated and structurally characterized for the first time.
Table 1. 1H and 13C NMR data of compounds 1 and 3 in methanol-d4
Number of Carbon |
1 |
3 |
δH Multi (J in Hz) |
δC |
δH Multi (J in Hz) |
δC |
2 |
|
158.1 |
|
158.6 |
|
|
134.9 |
|
134.8 |
4 |
|
179.2 |
|
179.0 |
5 |
|
163.1 |
|
163.0 |
6 |
6.16 d (1.5) |
101.2 |
6.11 d (2.0) |
100.6 |
7 |
|
167.7 |
|
168.3 |
8 |
6.34 s |
95.1 |
6.29 d (2.0) |
95.2 |
9 |
|
158.5 |
|
158.1 |
10 |
|
105.3 |
|
105.2 |
1′ |
|
122.7 |
|
122.8 |
2′,6′ |
8.00 d (8.5) |
132.1 |
7.98 d (9.0) |
132.1 |
3′,5′ |
6.87 d (8.5) |
116.3 |
6.88 d (9.0) |
116.2 |
4′ |
|
161.6 |
|
161.6 |
1′′ |
5.57 d (8.0) |
100.4 |
5.64 d (8.0) |
100.7 |
2′′ |
5.36 dd (10.0, 8.0) |
74.3 |
5.03 dd (9.0, 8.0) |
75.8 |
3′′ |
3.75 dd (10.5, 3.5) |
73.4 |
3.64 t (9.0) |
76.3 |
4′′ |
3.89 d (3.5) |
70.5 |
3.41 t (10.0) |
71.5 |
5′′ |
3.55 t (6.0) |
77.4 |
3.29 m |
78.8 |
6′′ |
3.67 m |
62.0 |
3.78 dd (12.0, 2.0) |
62.5 |
|
|
|
3.61 m |
|
1′′′ |
|
127.2 |
|
127.8 |
2′′′ |
7.45 d (8.5) |
131.2 |
7.18 d (1.5) |
111.7 |
3′′′ |
6.81 d (8.5) |
116.8 |
|
149.4 |
4′′′ |
|
161.3 |
|
150.7 |
5′′′ |
6.81 d (8.5) |
116.8 |
6.81 d (8.5) |
116.5 |
6′′′ |
7.45 d (8.5) |
131.2 |
7.07 dd (8.5, 1.5) |
124.1 |
7′′′ |
7.65 d (15.5) |
146.9 |
7.66 d (16.0) |
147.2 |
8′′′ |
6.35 d (16.0) |
115.2 |
6.37 d (16.0) |
115.5 |
9′′′ |
|
168.7 |
|
168.4 |
3′′′-OCH3 |
|
|
3.91 s |
56.4 |
Compound
3 was isolated as a yellow powder, and the molecular formula was established as C
31H
28O
14 by analyzing HRMS data. The UV spectrum showed the UV absorption at 210 and 327 nm due to the same aglycone with compounds
1 and
2. The
1H NMR data (
Table 1,
Figure S10) were similar to those of compound
2, but compound
3 had a feruloyl group instead of the coumaroyl group, as evidenced by the presence of an additional methoxy group (
δH 3.91 (3H, s, 3′′′-OCH
3)). Additionally, an anomeric proton signal (
δH 5.64 (1H, d,
J = 8.0 Hz, H-1′′)) was observed, indicating that the glycosyl linkage was a
β-configuration, and the downfield-shifted signal (5.03 (1H, t,
J = 8.5 Hz, H-2′′)) was shown in the sugar region, as with compound
1. The
13C NMR data (
Table 1,
Figure S11) showed 31 resonances comprising two
trans-olefinic carbons, ten quarternary carbons, ten aromatic carbons, six glucosyl moiety carbons, and one methoxy carbon, and ten non-protonated carbons, including two carbonyl carbons corresponding to kaempferol, feruloyl, and glucose groups. In particular, carbon signals from C-2′′ to C-6′′ (
δC 75.8, 76.3, 71.5, 78.8 and 62.5) suggested the presence of a glucose moiety. The locations of the glucose moiety and feruloyl group were assigned by the long-range HMBC correlations between H-1′′ and C-3 (
δC 134.8) and H-2′′ and C-1′′′ (
δC 168.4) (
Figure S14). The position of an additional methoxy group was determined by the key correlation between 3′′′-OCH
3 and C-3′′′ (
δC 149.4). The above results suggested the structure of compound
3 as kaempferol-3-
O-
β-2”-feruloylglucoside. To the best of our knowledge, compound
3 was only reported as a product of the hydrolysis of 3-
O-
β-(2-
O-feruloyl)-glucosyl-7,4′-di-
O-
β-glucosylkaempferol, isolated from
Allium tuberosum [35]. Therefore, the structure of
3 was elucidated as a new natural compound.
Compound
11 was isolated as a yellow powder. The
1H NMR data (
Figure S19) displayed a set of AA′BB′-type signals (
δH 8.06 (2H, d,
J = 9.0 Hz, H-2′, H-6′), 6.87 (2H, d,
J = 9.0 Hz, H-3′, H-5′)) in the B ring of kaempferol and a singlet signal at
δH 7.02 (2H, s, H-3′′′, H-7′′′) of a galloyl moiety in aromatic region, which is a characteristic signal of galloylated flavonol. An anomeric proton signal (
δH 5.78 (1H, d,
J = 8.0 Hz, H-1′′)) indicated that the glycosyl linkage was a
β-configuration. Furthermore, a downfield shifted proton signal (5.27 (1H, t,
J = 9.5 Hz, H-2′′)) suggested that the galloyl group was attached at the hydroxyl group of C-2′′ because this shift could be attributed to the anisotropic influence of the
O-galloyl moiety
[21]. The
13C NMR data (
Figure S20) exhibited 26 resonances, indicating galloylated flavonol glycoside. The carbon signals from C-2′′ to C-6′′ (
δC 71.1, 72.7, 68.2, 76.0, and 60.1) suggested the presence of a galactose moiety. Therefore, the structure of compound
11 was confirmed as kaempferol-3-
O-
β-2′′-galloylgalactoside. Although compound
11 was previously isolated from various sources, including
D. kaki [21][36], only the
1H NMR and MS data were previously reported. Thus, the
13C NMR data was reported for the first time in this study.
4. Discussion
Phytochemical investigations to identify biologically active compounds in persimmon leaves have been widely carried out. So far, a considerable number of triterpenoids and flavonoids, including kaempferol and quercetin derivatives, have been reported from
D. kaki [1]. In this study, we obtained 27 compounds, including sixteen flavonoids, one ionone, two coumarins, seven triterpenoids, and one acetophenone. Of these, compound
1 was found to be a new flavonoid and compound
2 was firstly isolated from
D. kaki. Additionally, kaempferol-3-
O-
β-2′′-feruloylglucoside (
3) was only reported as a hydrolyzed product of 3-
O-
β-(2-
O-feruloyl)-glucosyl-7,4′-di-
O-
β-glucosylkaempferol (
3), isolated from
Allium tuberosum [35]. Compound
3 was not only obtained directly from a natural source for the first time but has also not been reported in
D. kaki previously. Furthermore, kaempferol-3-
O-
β-2′′-galloylgalactoside (
11) has been previously reported in many sources, including
D. kaki, but only the
1H NMR and MS have been reported due to the lack of detailed research. Hence, the
13C NMR data was reported for the first time here.
Until now, there have been few studies that demonstrated the antioxidative abilities of extracts or fractions of persimmon leaves
[37][38]. Most studies used rapid assay methods such as DPPH or ABTS assays. In particular, in the previous paper, 200 μg/mL of flavonoid-rich fraction exhibited 68.73% inhibition of DPPH radical. Aside from this result, however, this fraction also showed superoxide anion radical scavenging, hydroxyl radical scavenging, and metal chelating activities
[38]. Although we did not evaluate these assays, bioassay-guided isolation was carried out because the ethanol extract and ethyl acetate fraction in the present study showed comparable DPPH radical scavenging activity. Additionally, despite previous results, only a few studies to identify biologically active compounds have been carried out. A few secoiridoids and lignans showed radical scavenging activities
[39]. In the case of flavonoids, there have been several reports that quercetin, kaempferol, and their glycosides have antioxidative properties
[40]. Antioxidative properties of galloylated kaempferol glycoside and galloylated quercetin glycoside obtained from other sources have been reported
[41]. As yet, there have been no reports that each of these compounds derived from the persimmon leaves has antioxidative effects, except that a mixture of these compounds exhibited an antioxidative effect
[21].
Additionally, so far, simultaneous determination of only a few triterpenoids or flavonoids has been carried out for the quantitative analysis of these compounds
[42][43]. However, the present study suggests a method for simultaneous determination of most components in the persimmon leaves.