Derris scandens (Fabaceae) is known as Gonj (Hindi) in
India. This plant is reported to possess anti-inflammatory,
free radical scavenging [1], antibacterial, antihypertensive [2],
immunomodulatory and anti-HIV properties [3]. Coumarins,
prenylated isoflavones, and isoflavone glycosides have been
previously reported from the stem of this plant [4–9]. In the
course of our ongoing efforts to identify intestinal -glucosidase
inhibitors and free-radical scavengers from medicinal plants,
we observed that the hexane and chloroform extracts of D.
scandens plant powder displayed potent intestinal -glucosidase
inhibitory activity. Extensive chromatography of the chloroform
extract led to the isolation of a new isoflavone and two new
prenylated isoflavones along with several new -glucosidase
inhibitors and free radical scavengers. In continuation to our
earlier efforts in preparing chemobiological standardization
protocols [10] of Indian medicinal plants, we herein report
∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +91 40 27193166; fax: +91 40 27160512.
E-mail address: janaswamy@iict.res.in (M.J. Rao).
the chemobiological standardization of -glucosidase enzyme
inhibitory and free radical scavenging constituents from D. scandens.