Cyperus rotundus L. is a weed which is well distributed in the temperate tropical and subtropical regions of the World. The tuber of Cyperus rotundus is a kind of Traditional Chinese Medicine named “Xiangfuzi”, which is widely used in folk medicine as an antidiarrheal, antidepressant, anti-Candida, antipyretic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-emetic remedy for dysentery and women’s diseases [1,2]. Previous phytochemical studies on this plant have revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides and furochromones, and many new sesquiterpenoids [2,3,4,5,6]. Recently, we reported a new flavonoid and five known compounds from the rhizomes of Cyperus rotundus [7]. In continuation of our search for new biologically active compounds from Chinese medicinal plants, we have further phytochemically investigated the rhizomes of this plant, resulting in the isolation two new components, 1α-methoxy-3β-hydroxy-4α-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalin (1) and 1α,3β-di-hydroxy-4α-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalin (2), together with six known compounds 3–8. The present paper deals with the experimental details of separation and structure elucidation of the constituents of the compounds 1–8.

The phytochemical study of 95% ethanol extract obtained from the rhizomes of Cyperus rotundus L. afforded eight compounds, including two new constituents and six known compounds (Figure 1). The structures of compounds 1–8 were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic analysis and comparison of their spectroscopic data with those reported in the literature.

Compound 1, had the molecular formula C₁₇H₁₈O₄, as deduced from the positive-ion HR-ESI-MS (m/z 309.1107 [M+Na]⁺) and ¹³C-NMR spectrum. The IR spectrum displayed absorptions at 3200–3450, 1603, and 1521 cm⁻¹, consistent with the presence of hydroxyl and phenyl groups, respectively. The occurrence of a 1,2-disubstituted phenyl (A ring) in the molecule could be easily deduced from the ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectra [δ 7.04 (1H, d, J = 7.8 Hz, H-5), 7.14 (1H, t, J = 7.8 Hz, H-6), 7.15 (1H, t, J = 7.8 Hz, H-7), and 7.43 (1H, d, J = 7.8 Hz, H-8); δ 139.1 (C-9), 137.9 (C-10), 128.9 (C-5), 127.6 (C-6), 126.9 (C-8) and 125.4 (C-7)] (Table 1 and Table 2). The detailed 2D NMR analysis of ¹H¹H COSY, HMQC, and HMBC correlations also implied that 1 had a 1,2-disubstituted phenyl (A ring) (Figure 2). Taking into account the nine degrees of unsaturation, 1 must include a six-membered ring (B ring). This was revealed by the HH correlations of the spin system H-1/H₂-2/H-3/H-4 as well as the HMBC correlations from H-1 to C-2, C-3, C-8, C-9, and C-10, from H-4 to C-3, C-9, C-10, and C-2, from H-3 to C-2, C-4, C-10, and C-1, and from H-2 to C-1, C-3, C-9, and C-4 (Figure 2). Thus, the skeleton of 1 was believed to be a 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalin (ring A and ring B).

The ¹H and ¹³C-NMR spectrum of 1 showed the presence of an aromatic ABX system [δ 6.73 (1H, d, J = 2.0 Hz, H-2′), 6.79 (1H, d, J = 8.0 Hz, H-5′), and 6.68 (1H, dd, J = 2.0, 8.0 Hz, H-6′); δ (C) 145.6 (C-3′), 143.1 (C-4′), 134.8 (C-1′), 122.4 (C-6′), 116.3 (C-2′), and 116.0 (C-5′)] (Table 1 and Table 2), suggesting the presence of a 1′,3′,4′-trisubstituted phenyl in the molecule. Considering the molecular formula of 1, two hydroxyl groups should be attached to C-3′ and C-4′, respectively. Thus, compound 1 contained a 3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl group (ring C). Moreover, the 3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl group (ring C) was attached to the C-4 position of the ring B, which was supported by the HMBC correlations between H-3 (δ 3.79) and C-4 and C-1′, H-4 (δ 4.09) and C-1′, C-2′, and C-6′, H-2′ (δ 6.73) and C-1′ and C-4, and H-6′ (δ 6.68) and C-1′ and C-4 (Figure 2). In the B ring, a methoxyl group was located at C-1 based on the HMBC correlations from the methoxyl protons (δ 3.31) to C-1 (δ 74.1) and a hydroxyl group was found at C-3 based on the HMBC correlations of H-3 (δ 3.79) to C-1, C-4, and C-10. The J value between the protons of H-3 and H-4 (J = 6.8 Hz) was consistent with the stereochemistry of H-3α and H-4β. The absence of a ROESY correlation between H-3 and H-4 also suggested a nearly antiperiplanar arrangement of these two protons. The ROESY correlation of H-1 to H-4 established the stereochemistry of H-1β and H-4β (Figure 3). Therefore, 1 was assigned as 1α-methoxy-3β-hydroxy-4α-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalin, and named methoxycyperotundol.

The molecular formula of compound 2 was determined to be C₁₆H₁₆O₄ by the positive ion at m/z 295.0948 [M+Na]⁺ in the HRESIMS. Its IR spectrum displayed absorptions attributable to hydroxyl (3300-3500 cm⁻¹) and phenyl groups (1607, 1518 cm⁻¹). The ¹H and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopic data of 2 were similar to those of 1, with the exception of a methoxyl group (δ 3.31; δ 57.3) at C-1 in 1, instead of a hydroxyl in 2 (Table 1 and Table 2). The suggestion was in accord with the observation of the upfield shift of C-1 signal from δ 74.1 in 1 to δ 65.8 in 2 (Table 2). This was further established by the HMBC correlations from H-1 to C-8, C-10, C-2, and C-3 (Figure 2). Therefore, compound 2 was identified as 1α,3β-dihydroxy-4α-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalin, and named cyperotundol.

The structures of the other isolated components: salicylic acid (3), caffeic acid (4), protocatechuic acid (5), p-coumaric acid (6), pongamone A (7) and biochanin A (8) were determined by comparison with the ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectral data in the literature [8,9,10,11]. To the best of our knowledge, the known compounds, pongamone A (7) and biochanin A (8) in the rhizomes of Cyperus rotundus are reported for the first time.

During the phytochemical survey of the rhizomes of Cyperus rotundus, two novel constituents methoxycyperotundol (1) and cyperotundol (2) were obtained, along with six known components. Additionally, the known compounds, pongamone A (7) and biochanin A (8) in the rhizomes of Cyperus rotundus L are reported for the first time.