Antibacterial stilbenes from the tubers of Bletilla striata

Three new bibenzyl derivatives (bletstrins A-C, 1 3), including two bibenzyls that have hydroxyl-substituted chiral centers on the aliphatic bibenzyl bridge, along with eighteen known stilbenoids (4-21) were isolated from the tubers of Bletilln striata. The structures of new compounds were elucidated by the use of 1D/2D NMR spectroscopic data. The absolute configurations of bletitrins A and B were determined by optical rotation value. Compounds 13-16 were isolated from the Orchidaceae for the first time. Most of the isolated compounds were evaluated for their antibacterial activities against three gram-positive bacterial strains and one gram-negative bacterial strain. Compounds 4, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16 and 18 showed potent inhibitory activities, with MICs of (6-52 mu g/mL) against S. aureus ATCC 6538.