Isolation, characterization and chemobiological quantification of alpha-glucosidase enzyme inhibitory and free radical scavenging constituents from Derris scandens Benth.

The hexane and chloroform extracts of Derris scandens have displayed potent alpha-glucosidase inhibitory and moderate free radical scavenging activities. Phytochemical investigation of the active extracts led to the isolation of three new prenylated isoflavones, isoscandinone, scandenin A and scandenin B in addition to scandenone, scandinone and 4', 5', 7-trihydroxybiprenylisoflavone as the main constituents, having alpha-glucosidase enzyme inhibitory and free radical scavenging properties. A reversed-phase HPLC method is developed to quantify these active principles in the plant material, which can serve as an effective quality control method for standardization of D. scandens.