Iridoids and derivatives from Catalpa ovata with their antioxidant activities

Six new iridoid derivatives (1–6)，together with twelve known compounds (7–18), were isolated and identified from the dried fruits of Catalpa ovata G. Don. Their chemical structures were mainly established through the relative spectroscopic data, while the absolute configurations of compounds 2 and 3 were elucidated on the electronic circular dichroism calculations. Their antioxidant activities were evaluated by activating the Nrf2 transcriptional pathway in 293 T cells in vitro. Among them, Compounds 1, 3, 4, 6–8, 10–12, 14, 15, 17 and 18 showed significant Nrf2 agonistic effect compared with the control group at 25 μM. Finally, The hypothetical biosynthetic pathway for 1–13 was discussed. [Display omitted] •Six new iridoid derivatives (1–6) were isolated and identified from the dried fruits of Catalpa ovata G. Don.•The structures and absolute configurations of compounds 2 and 3 were elucidated through NMR data and ECD analysis.•Thirteen compounds showed significant Nrf2 agonistic effect compared with the control group at 25 μM.•The hypothetical biosynthetic pathway for 1–13 was discussed.