Highlights

Senna tora sprouts have better antioxidative and neuroprotective effects than S. tora seeds.

Two new naphthopyrone derivatives with 27 known compounds are identified in S. tora sprouts.

Five compounds possess antioxidative and neuroprotective effects in HT22 and R28 cells.

The amount of five compounds is highest in S. tora sprouts cultivated in the dark condition.

S. tora sprouts and their constituents can be valuable neuroprotective antioxidants.

Abstract

The consumption of sprouts has been steadily increasing due to their being an excellent source of nutrition. It is known that the bioactive constituents of legumes can be increased after germination. In this study, the extract from Senna tora sprouts is shown to exhibit improved radical scavenging activities and better neuroprotective effects in HT22 hippocampal neuronal (HT22) and R28 retina precursor (R28) cells than those from seeds due to an increased content of phenolic constituents, especially compounds 1 and 3–6. A phytochemical investigation of S. tora sprouts resulted in the isolation of two new naphthopyrone glycosides (1–2) with 27 previously reported compounds. Their structures were determined via interpreting spectroscopic data. Compounds 1 and 3–6 were found to possess radical scavenging activities and neuroprotective effects against oxidative stress in both neuronal cells. Hence, Senna tora sprouts and their constituents may be developed as natural neuroprotective agents via antioxidative effects.