A new class of biflavonoids: 2'-hydroxygenistein dimers from the roots of white lupin.

Two novel isoflavonoid dimers presumably originating from 2'-hydroxygenistein, 5,7,4'-trihydroxycoumaranochroman-4-one-(3-->5"')-5",7",2"'4"'- tetrahydroxyisoflavone (1, lupinalbisone A) and 5,7,4'-trihydroxycoumaranochroman-4-one-(3-6")-5",7",2"',4"'-te trahydroxyisoflavone (2, lupinalbisone B) were isolated from the roots of Lupinus albus L., and their structures involving relative stereochemistry were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Using horse radish peroxidase and 2'-hydroxygenistein (3) as the substrate revealed the formation of these dimers together with 5,7,4'-trihydroxycoumaronochromone (4, lupinalbin A). Dimerization of 3 caused a remarkable increase of antifungal activity.