Objective To investigate the chemical constituents and their antitumor activities isolated from Cyperus rotundus. Methods The isolates were isolated and purified by silica gel, Sephadex gel, reversed-phase C₁₈ column chromatography, and semi-preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The structures of the obtained compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS). Finally, all compounds were subjected to MTT assays to evaluate their anti-tumor activities. Results Two new diphenyl ethers were obtained from C. rotundus, specifically as 2,3′-dihydroxy-5,2′,5′-trimethoxy diphenyl ether (1) and 2,3′-dihydroxy-4,2′,5′-trimethoxy diphenyl ether (2). Both compounds exhibited moderate inhibitory effects on human colon cancer cell line HCT116, with median inhibition concentration (IC₅₀) values of (24.20 ± 0.77) and (25.26 ± 0.65) μmol/L, respectively. Conclusion Compounds 1 and 2 are new compounds with anti-tumor potential, named cydipethers A (1) and B (2). Diphenyl ethers were identified from C. rotundus for the first time.

Cyperaceae  /  Cyperus rotundus L.  /  diphenyl ether  /  antitumor  /  cydipethers A  /  cydipethers B