Cytotoxic polyprenylated phloroglucinol derivatives from Hypericum elodeoides Choisy modulating the transactivation of RXRα.

• Three new polyprenylated phloroglucinols from Hypericum elodeoides. • The absolute configurations of 1 – 3 were elucidated by ECD calculation. • The plausible biogenetic pathways of 1 – 3 were proposed. • Compound 1 might modulate the RXRα transactivation by interacting with RXRα-LBD. Hyperelodione D (1), an undescribed polyprenylated phloroglucinol derivative possessing 6/6/5/5 fused tetracyclic core, together with hyperelodiones E–F (2 – 3), two unreported analogues bearing 6/5/5 fused tricyclic structure, were isolated from Hypericum elodeoides Choisy. Their planar structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis (HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR) and their absolute configurations were determined by comparison of experimental and calculated ECD data. The cytotoxicity and retinoid X receptor-α (RXRα) related activities of the isolates were evaluated and the plausible biogenetic pathways of 1 – 3 were proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]