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.