Gerberdriasins A-F, six undescribed coumarin derivatives from Gerbera anandria (Linn) Sch-Bip and their protective effects on scopolamine-induced injury in PC12 cells

A chemical investigation on the herb Gerbera anandria (Linn) Sch-Bip led to the isolation and identification of six previously undescribed coumarin derivatives, named Gerberdriasins A-F (1-6). Structurally, their chemical structures and absolute configurations were determined by nuclear magnetic resonance (1D and 2D NMR), high resolution electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy (HR-ESI-MS), experimental and quantum mechanical nuclear magnetic resonance (QM-NMR) methods, Mosher's method and calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) experiments. The biological activity of the obtained compounds showed that they displayed significant neuroprotective effects against scopolamine-induced injury in PC12 cells at the concentrations 12.5, 25.0 and 50.0 nM. Further study demonstrated that 1 could inhibit cell apoptosis, decrease malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and increase superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in scopolamine-treated PC12 cells.