Flavonoids of Helianthus series Angustifolii

Leaf and ray flower flavonoids were investigated for the seven species of Helianthus series Angustifolii. Flavone aglycones occur in small glandular trichomes located on leaf undersurfaces of H. angustifolius, H. floridanus and H. simulans. Other species lacked both glandular trichomes and flavone aglycones. Flavonol glycosides occur in low concentrations in leaves of all species but were not characterized. Anthochlors (chalkones) occur in leaves of H. heterophyllus and H. longifolius. Ray flower flavonoids include anthochlor and flavonol glycosides and occur in the basal region of the ligule producing a band of UV A around the head. Anthochlors are the predominant ray flower flavonoids in H. angustifolius, H. heterophyllus and H. longifolius, whereas they are absent and quercetin 7-glucoside is present in H. carnosus and H. floridanus. Cladistic analysis of flavonoid and morphological characters indicates that evolution in the series has been a radiation from ancestral types rather than a linear sequence of progressively more derived species.     

Sesquiterpene lactones from Viguiera deltoidea

Three sesquiterpene lactones, 2′,3′-dihydroniveusin-A, 2′,3′-dihydroniveusin-B and 3-acetylchamissonin, were isolated from the dichloromethane extract of leaves of Viguiera deltoidea. The structures were established on the basis of physical and spectroscopic data and that of 3-acetylchamissonin was also confirmed by X-ray analysis.     

External flavonoid aglycones of Viguiera series Viguiera (asteraceae: heliantheae)

Distribution of external flavonoid aglycones supports other data to suggest that Viguiera series Viguiera (series Dentatae Blake) is a mixed taxonomic grouping. Two species, V. dentata and V. potosina, lack external flavonoid aglycones, whereas the remaining species of the series all produce external flavonoid aglycones and appear to form a natural taxonomic group. The latter group, which consists of species from Baja California and nearby xeric areas, exhibits a diversity of flavonoid types, with different diploid species variously producing flavonols, simple flavones, 6-methoxyflavones, 6-hydroxy,7-methoxyflavones and a chalkone as major compounds. Polyploid species exhibit combinations of flavonoid types from possible diploid ancestors. Compounds of the 6-hydroxy,7-methoxyflavone type appear to characterize the group of species from Baja California and nearby areas within Viguiera.     

Germacra-12,6β-olides from Montanoa revealii and M. mollissima

Montanoa revealii and M. mollissima yielded a series of germacra-12,6β-olides similar to those previously reported from M. hibiscifolia and M. pteropoda.     

Germacranolides,calbertolides A,B and C,from Calea berteriana

The isolation and structure elucidation of two germacranolides, calbertolides A and B, and a heliangolide, calbertolide C, from Calea berteriana are reported. The structures of the new compounds were established by spectroscopic methods.     

Four eudesmanolides from Montanoa frutescens

Chemical analysis of Montanoa frutescens afforded the known sesquiterpene lactones montafrusins A and B, as well as four new eudesmanolides which we have named montafrusins C, D, E and F. The structures of the new compounds were established by spectroscopic methods.     

Eudesmanolides,trichomatolides B–E,and A heliangolide from Calea trichomata

Calea trichomata gave in addition to four known 1β-hydroxy-8β-tigloyloxy-11(13)-eudesmen-6α, 12-olide derivatives a new heliangolide, 3-deoxy     

Eudesmanolides from Calea trichomata

Chemical analysis of Calea trichomata yielded, besides four known eudesmanolides, a new eudesmanolide, trichomatolide A. The structure of the new compound was established by chemical and spectral methods.     

Guaianolides and chromenes from Calea species

Chemical analysis of Calea berteriana yielded, besides the known flavonoid acacetin and the sesquiterpene lactone calbertolide C, three new guaianolides, desacyl-8-tiglylsubcordatolide A and 8-epi-8-tiglylrupicolins A and B. C. prunifolia provided acacetin, calbertolide C, desacyl-8-tiglylsubcordatolide A, and two new chromenes, prunichromenes A and B. From C. solidaginea acacetin, heliangine, calbertolide C, 8-epi-8-tiglylrupicolin A and desacyl-8-tiglylsubcordatolide A were isolated. The structures of the new compounds were established by chemical and spectral methods.     

Distribution of chromenes and benzofurans in Encelia californica

Two populations of Encelia californica (Asteraceae) were analysed for chromenes and benzofurans on an organ specific basis using HPLC. Both classes of compounds were present in all parts of the plant studied including roots, stems, leaves, capitula and achenes. The distribution patterns were less complex in roots and achenes when compared to stems, leaves and capitula which yielded three chromenes and two benzofurans. In addition to the chromenes and benzofurans the capitula afforded a sesquiterpene lactone of the eudesmanolide type which was absent in the other parts of the plant.     

Terpenoids and a flavan-3-ol from viguiera quinqueradiata

The isolation is reported of the new natural products from Viguiera quinqueradiata, acetylleptocarpin and (2R,3S-4′-hydroxy-3′,5,7-tri-O-methyl-flavan-3-ol. The diterpenes 15α-angeloyloxy-ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid, 15α-tigloyloxy-ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid and the sesquiterpene lactones leptocarpin and budlein A were also found.     

Glandular trichomes and sesquiterpene lactones of Artemisia nova (Asteraceae)

The leaves of Artemisia nova Nelson are covered with a dense layer of nonglandular trichomes that obstruct the observation of glandular trichomes on the leaf surfaces. An acid-staining technique was developed that eliminates interference from the nonglandular trichomes and stains the glandular ones red, allowing them to be seen under a light microscope. Using this method it was found that these glands develop on both leaf surfaces, except over veins, and cover 21–35% of the leaf surface area at densities of 50–70 per mm². Mature glands are sac-like structure with a thin sheath or cuticle surrounding a clear transparent fluid. This fluid contains all of the sesquiterpene lactones present in the leaves, and some of the monoterpenes. These terpenoids were responsible for the red color of the glands after acid treatment.     

Microsampling: an alternative approach using sesquiterpene lactones for systematics

The localization of sesquiterpene lactones in glandular trichomes of numerous Asteraceae makes it possible to use a microtechnique to investigate their occurrence. General aspects of the utility and value of the method in comparison with standard procedures are discussed with special focus on the advantage of a quick, inexpensive and reproducible analytical technique in systematic and biochemical studies. Using analytical HPLC, it was possible to establish the sesquiterpene lactone profiles of all 64 known taxa of the genus Helianthus. Intraspecific variation of sesquiterpene lactones was found to be low in comparison to morphological characters. Hybrids were shown to possess the additive sesquiterpene lactone patterns of their parents. This suggests that the chemistry of these compounds could be a useful tool in taxonomy.     

Sesquiterpene lactones from two newly-described species of Vernonia: V. jonesii and V. pooleae

Two novel, non-glaucofide, germacrolide sesquiterpene lactones, 8α-methacryloyloxycostunolide-1(10),4(5)-diepoxide and 1-oxo-10α-OH-8α-methacryloyloxycostunolide (not fully characterized), were isolated from Vernonia jonesii and the previously described glaucolide B was identified from V. pooleae. This is one of the few reports of non-glaucolide type germacrolides in a New World species of Vernonia, although members of this class of sesquiterpene lactones are common constituents of Old World species of the genus. The chemical evidence supports the suggestion that V. jonesii may be part of a relictual, isolated group of the New World Vernonia, closely related to some of the Old World taxa.     

Sesquiterpene lactones from glandular trichomes of Viguiera radula (Heliantheae; Asteraceae)

In addition to known compounds, the floral parts of Viguiera radula afforded two new sesquiterpene lactones. All compounds were detected in glandular trichomes, which were micromechanically collected from the anther appendages and analyzed by HPLC. Structure identification was performed by NMR and MS techniques.     

Guaianolide-type sesquiterpene lactones of Montanoa tomentosa subsp. xanthiifolia and M. tomentosa subsp. rosei and the molecular structures of two pumilin analogs

Montanoa tomentosa subsp. xanthiifolia and M. tomentosa subsp. rosei produce guaianolides which are very similar to those previously reported from Berlandiera pumila, B. texana and B. lyatra. The molecular structures of 3α-epoxypumilin and 8-acetyl-9-desacylpumilin-9-methacrylate were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction.     

Myricetin in Tagetes: Chemosystematic significance

Myricetin 3- and 7-glucosides, as well as other flavonoid glycosides were identified in four species of Tagetes. The presence of myricetin glucosides in Asteraceae is reported for the first time. Some chemosystematic and evolutionary implications are discussed.     

Ent-kauranes and 10α-methyl-eudesman-8αh,12-olides from wedelia calycina and wedelia hispida

The aerial parts of Wedelia hispida furnished small amounts of three new 10α-methyl-eudesman-8α,12-olides as well as some known ent-kauranes. Wedelia calycina yielded various ent-kaurane derivatives, several of them new.