Abstract: To investigate the chemical constituents from the seed of Herpetospermum caudigerum (Wall.),the chemical constituents were separated and purified by using a combination of various chromatographic techniques including column chromatography over silica gel,Sephadex LH-20,and recrystallization.Their structures were elucidated by physical and chemical properties,Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC),spectrum analysis like ¹H NMR,MS and so on.Seven phenolic compounds were identified as Herpetol (1),Herpetolide A (2),(9R)-9-hydroxylariciresinol (3),Evofolin-B (4),Kaempferol 3,7-O-α-L-dirhamnoside (5),Herpetin (6),Herpetrione (7).Among the other compounds,compound 3,4 and 5 were obtained from this plant for the first time.In addition,antibacterial activity of these compounds was tested by using the Candida albicans ATCC 14053,M.smegmatic CGMCC 1.562,Cryptococcus neoformans ACCC 20337,and Bacillus subtilis CICC 10285.

Key words: Herpetospermum caudigerum (Wall.), ethyl acetate fraction, phenolic constituents, separation and purification, antibacterial activity