Hepatoprotective Diastereomeric Lignans from <i>Saururus chinensis</i> Herbs

Two new diastereomeric sauchinones (<b>2</b>, <b>3</b>), along with the known sauchinone (<b>1</b>), a phenylpropanoid (sarisan), and two known lignans (galbacin and saucernetin), were isolated from the <i>n</i>-hexane fraction of <i>Saururus chinensis</i> using reversed-phase HPLC. The stereostructures of the lignans, sauchinone A (<b>2</b>) and 1‘-<i>epi</i>-sauchinone (<b>3</b>), were established by analysis of spectroscopic data. Incubation of cultured rat hepatocytes intentionally injured by CCl₄ with each of the compounds <b>1</b>, <b>2</b>, and <b>3</b> significantly reduced the levels of glutamic pyruvic transaminase released by the damaged hepatocytes.