A methylflavan with free radical scavenging properties from Pancratium littorale.

The isolation of 7,4'-dihydroxy-8-methylflavan (1) from the dichloromethane extract of Pancratium littorale stem was guided by an assay for free radical scavenging activity towards the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl radical (DPPH). The structure of 1 was established by spectrometric methods including UV, EI mass spectrometry, 1H and 13C-NMR. The free radical scavenging properties of 1 were quantified in solution using spectrophotometry.