Phenylpropanoyl Esters from Horseweed (Conyza canadensis) and Their Inhibitory Effects on Catecholamine Secretion

Three unique phenylpropanoyl 2,7-anhydro-3-deoxy-2-octulosonic acid derivatives were isolated from Conyza canadensis (horseweed). Their structures were defined as rel-(1S,2R,3R,5S,7R)-methyl 7-caffeoyloxymethyl-2-hydroxy-3-feruloyloxy-6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-5-carboxylate (1), rel-(1S,2R,3R,5S,7R)-methyl 7-feruloyloxymethyl-2-hydroxy-3-feruloyloxy-6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-5-carboxylate (2), and rel-(1R,2R,3R,5S,7R)-methyl 7-feruloyloxymethyl-2-feruloyloxy-3-hydroxy-6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-5-carboxylate (3). Compound 1 and a 5:3 mixture of compounds 2 and 3 were demonstrated to inhibit the catecholamine secretion induced by acetylcholine with IC₅₀ values of 94.65 and 42.35 μM, respectively, and to inhibit the catecholamine secretion induced by veratridine and high [K⁺] at a dose of 100 μM in cultured bovine adrenal medullary cells.