Novel neurotrophic phenylbutenoids from Indonesian ginger Bangle, Zingiber purpureum.

Two new curcuminoids 1 and 2, and a new phenylbutenoid dimer 3, were isolated from Bangle (Zingiber purpureum). Their structures were determined on the basis of comprehensive spectroscopic data and their biogenetic pathway. Compounds 1 and 2 are the first example of curcumin coupled with phenylbutenoid. Compounds 1 and 2 promoted neurite outgrowth of NGF-mediated PC12 cells at concentrations ranging from 1 to 10μM. In addition, compound 1 was found to accelerate the prevention of Aβ42 aggregation.