Two new stilbene glycosides (1 and 2), together with nine known compounds (3-11), were isolated from the water extract of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by their chemical properties and spectroscopic analyses, including extensive 2D NMR experiments. Compound 2 showed strong DNA cleavage activity, and compounds 1, 2 and 10 (2, 3, 4′, 5_tetrahydroxy_ trans _stilbene_2_O_β_ D _glucopyranoside) exhibited significant inhibition of lipid peroxidation.
