6-hidroxyacetyl-5-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-2H-chromene (1), a new α-glucosidase inhibitor from Brickellia cavanillesii

An aqueous extract from the aerial parts of Brickellia cavanillesii showed potent inhibitory activity (IC₅₀=0.169mg/mL vs 1.12mg/mL for acarbose) against yeast α-glucosidase. Bioassay guided fractionation of the active extract led to the isolation of several compounds including a new chromene, namely, 6-hidroxyacetyl-5-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-2H-chromene (1). This compound was identified by spectral means. It inhibited the activity of yeast-α-glucosidase with IC₅₀ of 0.28 mM. Kinetic analysis revealed that compound 1 behaved as non-competititive inhibitor with a Ki of=0.13 mM.