Flavonoids of the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha

The major flavonoids of Marchantia polymorpha var. polymorpha and aquatica are the 7-O-β-d-glucuronides of apigenin and luteolin, luteolin 3′-O-β-d-glucuronide, luteolin 7,3′-di-O-β-d-glucuronide, and the 7,4′-di-O-β-d-glucuronides of apigenin and luteolin. These are accompanied by minor amounts of apigenin, luteolin, luteolin 3′,4′-di-O-β-d-glucuronide and luteolin 7,3′,4′-tri-O-β-d-glucuronide. All the luteolin di- and triglucuronides except the 3′,4′-di- substituted compound are new natural products.     

Isoscutellarein and hypolaetin 8-glucuronides from the liverwort Marchantia berteroana

The major flavonoid of Marchantia berteroana is hypolaetin 8-O-β-d-glucuronide. This is accompanied by apigenin and luteolin, isoscutellarein (8-hydroxyapigenin) 8-O-β-d-glucuronide, the 7-O-β-d-glucuronide and -galacturonide of apigenin and luteolin, luteolin 3′-O-β-d-glucuronide and -galacturonide, luteolin 7,3′-di-O-β-d-glucuronide and -galacturonide, luteolin 3′,4′-di-O-β-d-glucuronide and -galacturonide, luteolin 7,4′-di-O-β-d-glucuronide, and hypolaetin 8,4′-di-O-β-d-glucuronide. The isoscutellarein and hypolaetin glucuronides, and the galacturonide flavones are all new natural products.     

5-Methyl ether flavone glucosides from the leaves of Bruguiera gymnorrhiza

Two new 5-methyl ether flavone glucosides (7,4′,5′-trihydroxy-5,3′-dimethoxyflavone 7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside and 7,4′-dihydroxy-5-methoxyflavone 7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside) were isolated from the leaves of Thai mangrove Bruguiera gymnorrhiza together with 7,3′,4′,5′-tetrahydroxy-5-methoxyflavone, 7,4′,5′-trihydroxy-5,3′-dimethoxyflavone, luteolin 5-methyl ether 7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, 7,4′-dihydroxy-5,3′-dimethoxyflavone 7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, quercetin 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, rutin, kaempferol 3-O-rutinoside, myricetin 3-O-rutinoside and an aryl-tetralin lignan rhamnoside. The structure of a lignan rhamnoside was found to be related to racemiside, an isolated compound from Cotoneaster racemiflora, and also discussed. Structure determinations were based on analyses of physical and spectroscopic data including 1D- and 2D-NMR.     

Flavonoid glucosides from licorice

Two new flavanone glycosides, liquiritigenin 4′-apiosyl(1 → 2)-glucoside and liquiritigenin 7,4′-diglucoside together with a known flavone, apigenin 6,8-di-C-glucoside, have been isolated from licorice.     

Flavonoid variation in the liverwort Conocephalum conicum: Evidence for geographic races

The flavonoids of 2 samples of Conocephalum conicum gametophyte tissue have been studied, one from U.S.A. and the other from Germany. Common to both samples were vicenin-2, lucenin-2, the 7-O-glucuronides of apigenin, chrysoeriol and luteolin and the previously unknown 7-O-glucuronide 4′-O-rhamnosides of apigenin, chrysoeriol and luteolin. Additionally the German sample contained the 7,4′-di-O-glucuronides of apigenin and luteolin and a new compound, apigenin 7-O-diglucuronide 4′-O-glucuronide. The North American sample contained, additionally, luteolin 7,3′-di-O-glucuronide, luteolin 7-O-glucuronide 3′,4′-di-O-rhamnoside (a new triglycoside) and 2 further derivatives of luteolin 7-O-glucuronide. Evidence is presented for the existence of geographic faces of C. conicum and for the qualitative invariability of the flavonoid patterns with changing season or environment.     

Biflavones of Dioon

Seven biflavones, amentoflavone, bilobetin, sequoiaflavone, ginkgetin, sciadopitysin, 7,4′,7′,4?-tetra-O-methylamentoflavone, and diooflavone (amentoflavone hexamethyl ether), were identified from extracts of the cycad genus Dioon. The biflavones were identified by direct comparison with authentic samples using m.m.p., co-chromatography in 3 solvents, and NMR studies of the acetates. This is the first time amentoflavone hexamethyl ether has been identified as a natural product. After surveying numerous species of the Cycadales, no evidence could be obtained for the occurrence of biflavone glycosides or of biflavones based upon any other nucleus than apigenin.     

The synthesis of 4′,6′-diacetamido-4′,6′-dideoxycellobiose hexa-acetate from lactose

Reaction of methyl 4′,6′-di-O-mesyl-β-lactoside pentabenzoate (8), synthesised via the 4′,6′-O-benzylidene derivative (6), with sodium azide in hexamethylphosphoric triamide gave three products. In addition to the required 4′,6′-diazidocellobioside (9), an elimination product, methyl 4-O-(6-azido-2,3-di-O-benzoyl-4,6-dideoxy-α-L-threo-hex-4-enopyranosyl)-2,3,6-tri-O-benzoyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (12), and an unexpected product of interglycosidic cleavage, methyl 2,3,6-tri-O-benzoyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (13), were formed. The origin of the latter product is discussed. The diazide 9 was converted into 4′,6′-diacetamido-4′,6′-dideoxycellobiose hexa-acetate (16) by sequential debenzoylation, catalytic reduction, acetylation, and acetolysis.     

Flavonoid glycosides from needles of Pinus massoniana

Seven flavonoids have been isolated from Pinus massoniana needles and identified as taxifolin and its 3′-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, (+)-catechin, naringenin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside and three new flavonoid glycosides, 6-C-methylaromadendrin 7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, taxifolin 3′-O-β-D-(6″-O-phenylacetyl)-glucopyranoside and eriodictyol 3′-O-β-D-glucopyranoside.     

Flavonol glycosides in leaves of Spinacia oleracea

Besides spinatoside (3,6-dimethoxy-5,7,3′,4′-tetrahydroxyflavone 4′-O-β-D-glucopyranuronide), three new flavonol glycosides have now been isolated from the polar fractions of the methanolic extract of Spinacia oleracea. They have been identified as patuletin 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-[β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1 → 2)]-β-D-glucopyranoside, patuletin 3-O-β-gentiobioside and spinacetin 3-O-β-gentiobioside, respectively.     

Synthesis of (±)-7,3′- and 7,4′-di-O-methyleriodictyol and of velutin and pilloin

Synthetic 2′-hydroxy-3,4′,6′-trimethoxy-4-benzyloxychalcone (I) affords (±)-7,3′-di-O-methyleriodictyol (II) and 7,3′-di-O-methylluteolin (or velutin, VII) identical with natural samples. Similarly synthetic 2′-hydroxy-4,4′,6′-trimethoxy-3-benzyloxychalcone (X) gives natural (±)-7,4′-di-O-methyleriodictyol (XI) and 7,4′-di-O-methylluteolin (or pilloin, IX). However, attempts to partially etherify II with one mole of prenyl bromide to obtain the natural prenyl ether failed; only the corresponding diprenyloxychalcone (IV) was obtained.     

Chalcone glycosides from aerial parts of Brassica rapa L. ‘hidabeni’, turnip

A phytochemical investigation of the aerial parts of Brassica rapa L. ‘hidabeni’, turnip resulted in the isolation of three new chalcone glycosides, 4′-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-4-hydroxy-3′-methoxychalcone (1), 4′-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-3′,4-dimethoxychalcone (2) and 4,4′-di-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-3′-methoxychalcone (3) along with three known glycosides. The structures of the three newly isolated chalcone glycosides were elucidated on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR and mass spectroscopy.     

Chalcones and other flavonoids from Asarum sensu lato (Aristolochiaceae)

Seventy-five taxa belonging to the genus Asarum sensu lato were studied for their composition of flavonoids. Three chalcones and an aurone were found as major components. The chalcones were identified as chalcononaringenin 2′,4′-di-O-glucoside, 4,2′,4′-tri-O-glucoside, 4-O-glucoside, and the aurone as aureisidin 4,6-di-O-glucoside. The glycoside, 2′,4′-di-O-glucoside was detected in all taxa examined, and is a chemotaxonomical feature of Asarum sensu lato. 4,2′,4′-Tri-O-glucoside was found from the taxa classified into the genera Asiasarum, Geotaenium and Heterotropa by Maekawa's system. On the other hand, the glycoside was not detected from three Asarum sensu stricto species, A. caudigerum, A. caulescens and A. leptophyllum. In contrast, aurone, aureusidin 4,6-di-O-glucoside occurred in two Asarum s.s., A. caulescens and A. leptophyllum. Thus, the Asarum s.s. and other Maekawa's genera, Asiasarum, Geotaenium and Heterotropa could distinguish by the presence or absence of some anthochlor pigments. Other flavonoids were isolated from the selected 18 Asarum species. They were characterized as some flavonol 3- or 3,7-O-glycosides based on kaempferol, quercetin and isorhamnetin, flavone, apigenin 6,8-di-C-glycoside, flavanone, naringenin 5,7-di-O-glucoside, and xanthone, mangiferin.     

Biflavones from the leaves of Araucaria excelsa

Eight biflavones have been isolated from the leaf extracts of Araucaria excelsa. 7″-O-Methylamento-flavone, 7,7″-di-O-methylamentoflavone, 4′ or 4″', 7-di-O-methylcupressuflavone, 7,7″,4″'-tri-O-methyl agathisflavone and 7,4′,7″-tri-O-methylamentoflavone are new compounds and are being reported for the first time. The others are 7,7″-di-O-methylagathisflavone,7,4′,7″,4″'-tetra-O-methylamentoflavone and 7,4′,7″,4″'-tetra-O-methyl-cupressuflavone. Mass and NMR spectral studies are used for structural elucidation. In addition, the presence of several other biflavones has been indicated by TLC examination of methylated products.     

Flavone O- and C-glycosides of Rhynchosia beddomei

A new flavone-O-glycoside isolated front the leaves of Rhynchosia beddomei has been characterized as 3′,4′-di-O-methylluteolin-7-O-glucuronide.     

Dunawithanines A and B,the first withanolide glycosides from Dunalia australis

Withanolide D, 7β-acetoxy-withanolide D and two new withanolide glycosides, named dunawithanines A and B, were isolated from Dunalia australis. From physical data and chemical transformations, the structures of the new compounds were determined as (20R,22R-O(3)-[2′,3′-di-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranosyl]-3β,20-dihydroxy-1α-acetoxy-witha-5,24-dienolide and the corresponding O(3)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl(1′ → x)-β-D- glucopyranosyl] compound, representing the first withanolide glycosides found in the plant kingdom.     

Luteolin 3′,4′-di-O-β-d-glucuronide and luteolin 3′-O-β-d-glucuronide from Lunularia cruciata

Luteolin 3′,4′-di-O-β-d-glucuronide is the major flavonoid in the liverwort Lunularia cruciata. It is accompanied by small amounts of luteolin 3′-O-β-d-glucuronide. Both are new natural products and the former appears to be a unique example of a 3′,4′-diglycosylated flavonoid. Luteolin 4′-O-β-d-glucuronide was isolated as a hydrolysis product of the diglucuronide.     

The taxonomic position of Sphaerocarpos and Riella as indicated by their flavonoid chemistry

The major flavonoid glycosides of Sphaerocarpos texanus are luteolin 7-O-glucuronide and 7,4′-di-O-glucuronide. Riella americana and R. affinis both contain apigenin, chrysoeriol and luteolin 7-O-glucuronides but R. americana additionally contains luteolin 3′-O-glucuronide. This finding supports the inclusion of Sphaerocarpaceae and Riellaceae in the order Marchantiales rather than their separation into another order.     

Apigenin and amentoflavone glycosides in the psilotaceae and their phylogenetic significance

Documentation of amentoflavone O-glucosides as the predominant flavonoid glycosides in both genera of the Psilotaceae clearly distinguishes this family from all other families of vascular plants. Psilotum and Tmesipteris also possess apigenin C- and O-glycosides as common flavonoid types. Apigenin 7-O-rhamnoglucoside occurs in both genera and the previously undocumented apigenin 7-O-rhamnoglucoside-4′-O-glucoside, although identified only in Tmesipteris, may also be present in Psilotum. The existence of flavone C-glycosides in both genera may provide a phytochemical relationship between the Psilotaceae and some ferns. The phylogenetic significance of these results is discussed.     

Flavone C-glycosides of two Metzgeria species

Six known tricin and apigenin di-C-glycosides, including 2″-O-ferulylisoschaftoside, have been identified in gametophytic material of Metzgeria conjugata. M. leptoneura contains a new di-C-glycoside, tricin 6-C-xyloside-8-C-hexoside. The chemotaxonomic relevance of the flavonoid patterns is briefly discussed.     

Flavonoids of Plagiochila asplenioides

Besides an apigenin- and a luteolin-di-C-glycoside, 5 previously unknown di-C-glycosides of tricetin were identified in the gametophytic and sporophytic tissues of Plagiochila asplenioides. Two of them were new 6,8-di-C-hexopyranosyltricetins, and two were new 6-C- hexopyranosyl-8-C-pentopyranosyltricetins. 6-C-Hexopyranosyl-8-C-pentopyranosyltricetin-5′-methyl ether was also found.