Bioactive flavonoids from Satureja atropatana Bonge.

From the ethyl acetate and methanol extract of the aerial parts of Satureja atropatana Bonge, which belongs to the Lamiaceae family, four flavonoids were isolated. Their structures were determined to be 5,6,3'-trihydroxy-7,8,4'-trimethoxyflavone (1), 5,6-dihydroxy-7,8,3',4'-tetramethoxyflavone or 5-desmethoxynobiletin (2), 5,6,4'-trihydroxy-7,8,3'-trimethoxyflavone or thymonin (3) and luteolin (4) using (1)H and (13)C-NMR and MS spectra. Brine shrimp cytotoxicity effects of the crude extracts and isolated compounds were examined. Berberine hydrochloride (LC(50) = 26 microg mL(-1)) was used as a positive control. Among them, compounds 2 (199 microg mL(-1)) and 3 (157 microg mL(-1)) were effective against Artemia salina larva.