Abstract: This study focused on the iridoid compounds present in Eucommiae Folium, and explored their anti-aging potential. Nine iridoid compounds namely buA (1), 6-O-caffeoylajugol (2), 6-O-(E)-feruloylajugol (3), 6-O-(E)-caffeoylaucubin (4), specioside (5), acuminatuside (6), iso-scrophulariosid (7), 6-O-acetylscandoside (8), and aucubin (9) were isolated from Eucommiae Folium using modern separation techniques, including silica gel column chromatography, octadecyl-bonded silica (ODS) column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, and semi-preparative high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Their structures were elucidated based on spectroscopic data, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS), and chemical data. Compound 1 represented a novel iridoid, while compounds 2–7 were isolated from the Eucommiae Folium for the first time. Compounds 1, 4, 6, 7, and 9 were found to significantly prolong the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans, compounds 1, 7, 8, and 9 significantly improved the resistance to oxidative stress, while compounds 1, 4, and 9 significantly improved the resistance to heat stress. These results indicated that the iridoid compounds of Eucommiae Folium exhibited significant anti-aging effects, which provides a scientific basis for future in-depth research and development of this traditional Chinese medicinal material.

Key words: Eucommiae Folium; iridoid; chemical constituents; anti-aging; Caenorhabditis elegans