Anthocyanins and flavonols from the flowers of Amherstia nobilis endemic to Myanmar

Three anthocyanins (1–3) and eight flavonols (4–11) were isolated from the flowers of Amherstia nobilis endemic to Myanmar. Anthocyanins were identified as cyanidin 3-O-glucoside (1), 3-O-xyloside (2), and peonidin 3-O-glucoside (3). On the other hand, flavonols were identified as isorhamnetin 3-O-glucoside (4), 7-O-glucoside (5), 3,7-di-O-glucoside (6) and 3-O-rutinoside (7), quercetin 3-O-rutinoside (8) and 3-O-glucoside (9), and kaempferol 3-O-rutinoside (10) and 3-O-glucoside (11). Although an anthocyanin, pelargonidin 3-O-pentoside, has been reported from the flowers of A. nobilis, it was not found in this survey. The presence of flavonols in A. nobilis was reported in this survey for the first time. Flavonoid composition of Amherstia was chemotaxonomically compared with those of phylogenetically related genera Cynometra and Brownea.     

Negatively charged flavones and tricin as chemosystematic markers in the palmae

A survey of 125 species of the Palmae revealed a complex pattern of flavonoids in the leaf. C-Glycosylflavones, leucoanthocyanins and tricin, luteolin and quercetin glycosides were common, being present in 84, 66, 51, 30 and 24% of the species respectively. Apigenin and kaempferol were recorded in only a few species and isorhamnetin only once. Eighteen flavonoids were identified: the 7-glucoside, 7-diglucoside and 7-rutinoside of both luteolin and tricin, tricin 5-glucoside, apigenin 7-rutinoside, quercetin 3-rutinoside-7-galactoside, isorhamnetin 7-rutinoside, orientin, iso-orientin, vitexin, isovitexin and vitexin 7-O-glucoside. Many of the C- and O-flavonoid glycosides were present as the potassium bisulphate salts and negatively charged compounds were detected in 50% of the species. The distribution patterns are correlated with the taxonomy of the family in several ways. Thus, the Phoenicoideae and Caryotoideae have distinctive flavonoid patterns, there is evidence to support the separation of the subfamilies Phytelephantoideae and Nypoideae, and tricin is a useful marker at tribal level. At the generic level, Cocos is clearly separated from Butia, and other Cocoseae and Mascarena and Chamaedorea form well defined groups within the Arecoideae. A numerical analysis of these biochemical data, together with morphological characters, produces a new classification which suggests that the flavonoid data may have more systematic value than is indicated when they are applied to the traditional classification.     

Flavonoids from Haplophyllum pedicellatum, H. robustum AND H. glabrinum

Haplophyllum pedicellatum, H. robustum and H. glabrinum all yielded the known compound gossypetin 8,3′-dimethyl ether 3-rutinoside. In addition the first two species afforded isorhamnetin and its 3-rutinoside. A new glycoside, gossypetin 8,3′-dimethyl ether 3-glucoside was obtained from H. pedicellatum together with the 3-malonylrutinoside, 3-malonylglucoside and 3-galactoside of isorhamnetin plus kaempferol 3-malonylglucoside. H. robustum yielded isorhamnetin 7-glucoside and 3-glucoside and quercetin 3-galactoside, while H. glabrinum was found to contain gossypetin 8-methyl ether 3-malonylrutinoside in addition to kaempferol and isorhamnetin 3-glucoside.     

Flavonoids of Mayaca fluviatilis (Mayacaceae)

Mayaca is an aquatic monocot of the monogeneric family Mayacaceae. The flavonol glycosides quercetin 3-O-glucoside, quercetin 3-O-rutinoside, and kaempferol 3-O-glucoside, and the flavone luteolin 5-O-glucoside were found in methanolic leaf extracts. The presence of flavonol and flavone O-glycosides sets the Mayacaceae apart from the Commelinaceae, which accumulates predominantly flavone C-glycosides.     

Flavonoids in the leaves of Hillebrandia and Begonia species (Begoniaceae)

The fresh leaves of Hillebrandia sandwicensis and 126 Begonia taxa were chemotaxonomically surveyed for flavonoids. Of their taxa, H. sandwicensis and 119 species, one variety and three hybrids were analyzed for flavonoids for the first time. Ten flavonols and eleven C-glycosylflavones were isolated and characterized as quercetin 3-O-rutinoside (1), kaempferol 3-O-rutinoside (2), isorhamnetin 3-O-rutinoside (3), quercetin 3-O-glucoside (4), quercetin 3-methyl ether 7-O-rhamnosylglucoside (5), quercetin 3,3'-dimethyl ether 7-O-rhamnosylglucoside (6), quercetin glycoside (13), quercetin glycoside (acylated) (14), kaempferol glycoside (17) and quercetin 3-O-rhamnoside (18) as flavonols, and isovitexin (7), vitexin (8), isoorientin (9), orientin (10), luteolin 6-C-pentoside (11), luteolin 8-C-pentoside (12), schaftoside (15), isoschaftoside (16), chrysoeriol 6,8-di-C-pentoside (19), apigenin 6,8-di-C-arabinoside (20) and isovitexin 2''-O-glucoside (21) as C-glycosylflavones. Quercetin 3-O-rutinoside (1) alone was isolated from H. sandwicensis endemic to Hawaii. Major flavonoids of almost Begonia species was also 1. Begonia species were divided into two chemotypes, i.e. flavonol containing type and C-glycosylflavone containing type. Of 14 section of the Begonia, almost species of many section, i.e. sect. Augustia, Coelocentrum, Doratometra, Leprosae, Loasibegonia, Monopteron and Ruizoperonia, were flavonol types. On the other hand, C-glycosyflavone type was comparatively most in sect. Platycentrum.     

Flavonoid constituents of Ephedra alata

Two new flavonol glucosides have been identified in Ephedra alata, namely, herbacetin 8-methyl ether 3-O- glucoside-7-O-rutinoside and herbacetin 7-O-(6″-quinylglucoside). The known flavonoids vicenin II, lucenin III, kaempferol 3-rhamnoside, quercetin 3-rhamnoside and herbacetin 7-glucoside were also found. The structure of the isolated compounds was determined mostly by FABMS and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The final structure of the new compounds and of herbacetin 7-glucoside was confirmed by ¹³C NMR spectroscopy.     

Flavonoid glycosides of Artemisia monosperma and A. herba-alba

Ten flavonoid glycosides were isolated and identified from Artemisia monosperma: vicenin-2, lucenin-2, acacetin 7-glucoside, acacetin 7-rutinoside, the 3-glucosides and 3-rutinosides of quercetin and patuletin, and the 5-glucosides of quercetin and isorhamnetin. From Artemisia herba-alba eight flavonoid glycosides were isolated and identified: isovitexin, vicenin-2, schaftoside, isoschaftoside and the 3-glucosides and 3-rutinosides of quercetin and patuletin.     

Effects of drought stress on phenolic accumulation in greenhouse-grown olive trees (Olea europaea)

The present study evaluates the effects of severe drought stress on the content of phenolic compounds in olive leaves, namely hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, catechin, luteolin 7-O-rutinoside, luteolin 7-O-glucoside, apigenin 7-O-glucoside, quercetin, apigenin, pinoresinol, oleuropein and verbascoside in greenhouse-grown plantlets. The results showed that oleuropein, verbascoside, luteolin 7-O-glucoside and apigenin 7-O-glucoside were the most important phenolic compound of stressed olive plants and can represent up to 84% of the total amount of the identified phenolic compounds. Application of drought stress caused a significant increase in the level of oleuropein (87%), verbascoside (78%), luteolin 7-O-glucoside (72%) and apigenin 7-O-glucoside (85%), when compared to the control. The elevated values of these phenolic compounds can help controlling the water status of olive plants and avoiding serious oxidative damage induced by water deficit stress. To our knowledge, this is the first report to show the boost in the concentrations of verbascoside, luteolin 7-O-glucoside and apigenin 7-O-glucoside in the leaves of olive trees after water deficit stress.     

Flavonol glycosides of Limnanthes douglasii

Eighteen flavonol glycosides were isolated from petal and leaf-stem of Limnanthes douglasii. There were six aglycones: kaempferol, quercetin, isorhamnetin, myriectin, syringetin and a new flavonol, myricetin 3′-methyl ether. Each occurred as the 3-rutinoside, 3-rhamnosylrutinoside and 3-rutinoside-7-glucoside.     

Flavonoids and xanthones from the leaves of Amorphophallus titanum (Araceae)

The flavonoids and xanthones in the leaves of Amorphophallus titanum, which has the largest inflorescence among all Araceous species, were surveyed. Eight C-glycosylflavones, five flavonols, one flavone O-glycoside and two xanthones were isolated and characterized as vitexin, isovitexin, orientin, isoorientin, schaftoside, isoschaftoside, vicenin-2 and lucenin-2 (C-glycosylflavones), kaempferol 3-O-robinobioside, 3-O-rutinoside and 3-O-rhamnosylarabinoside, and quercetin 3-O-robinobioside and 3-O-rutinoside (flavonols), luteolin 7-O-glucoside (flavone), and mangiferin and isomangiferin (xanthones). Although the inflorescence of this species has been surveyed for flavonoids, those of the leaves were reported for the first time.     

Acylated flavonol diglucosides from Lotus polyphyllos

Three acylated flavonol diglucosides, kaempferol 3-O-β-(6″-O-E-p-coumaroylglucoside)-7-O-β-glucoside; quercetin 3-O-β-(6″-O-E-p-coumaroylglucoside)-7-O-β-glucoside; isorhamnetin 3-O-β-(6″-O-E-p-coumaroylglucoside)-7-O-β-glucoside were isolated from the whole plant aqueous alcohol extract of Lotus polyphyllos. The known 3,7-di-O-glucosides of the aglycones kaempferol, quercetin and isorhamnetin were also characterized. All structures were established on the basis of chemical and spectral evidence.     

The flavonoids ofBalanites aegyptiaca (Balanitaceae) from Egypt

Six flavonoid glycosides: quercetin 3-glucoside, quercetin-3-rutinoside; 3-glucoside, 3-rutinoside, 3-7-diglucoside and 3-rhamnogalactoside of isorhamnetin were extracted and identified from the leaves and branches of Egyptian material ofBalanites aegyptiaca. Only isorhamnetin: 3-rutinoside and 3-rhamnogalactoside were recorded from the fruits of the same plant.—Phytochemical aspects ofBalanites aegyptiaca and some genera ofZygophylaceae s. l. viz.Nitraria, Fagonia, Zygophyllum, Seetzenia andTribulus support its affinities with that family.     

Glucosylation of Quercetin by a Cell Suspension Culture of Vitis sp.

A cell suspension culture of a Vitis hybrid converted quercetin to six glucosides. Their structures were identified as quercetin 3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, quercetin 3,4′-di-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, quercetin 3,7-di-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, isorhamnetin 3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, isorhamnetin 3,4′-di-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, and isorhamnetin 3,7-di-O-β-d-glucopyranoside by UV, FD-MS, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy and TLC analysis.

The course of conversion was also investigated and it was shown that quercetin 3-O-glucoside reached the maximum yield of 31% in 24 hr and then gradually disappeared accompanied by the production of quercetin 3,4′- and 3,7-di-O-glucosides. Although the same rise and fall relationship was observed between isorhamnetin 3-O-glucoside and isorhamnetin 3,4′- or 3,7-di-O-glucoside, their conversion ratios were much lower than those of quercetin glucosides.     

Flavonoids from the leaves and flowers of the Himalayan Cathcartia villosa (Papaveraceae)

Five flavonols, four flavones and one C-glycosylflavone were isolated from the leaves of Cathcartia villosa which is growing in the Himalayan Mountains. They were characterized as quercetin 3-O-vicianoside (1), quercetin 7,4′-di-O-glucoside (3), quercetin 3-O-rutinoside (4), quercetin 3-O-glucoside (5), quercetin 3-O-arabinosylarabinosylglucoside (6) (flavonols), luteolin (7), luteolin 7-O-glucoside (8), apigenin (9), chrysoeriol (10) (flavones), and vicenin-2 (11) (C-glycosylflavone) by UV, LC-MS, acid hydrolysis, NMR and/or HPLC and TLC comparisons with authentic samples. On the other hand, two flavonols 1 and kaempferol 3-O-vicianoside (2) were isolated and identified from the flowers of the species. Flavonoids were reported from the genus Cathcartia in this survey for the first time. Their chemical characters were chemotaxonomically compared with those of related Papaveraceous genera, Meconopsis and Papaver.     

Distribution of charged flavones and caffeylshikimic acid in Palmae

Identification of the phenolic constituents in flowers of nine palm species has revealed that charged C-glycosylflavones and caffeylshikimic acid are characteristically present. Flavonol glycosides are also common; the 3-glucosides, 3-rutinosides and 3,4′-diglucosides of quercetin and isorhamnetin and the 7-glucoside and 3,7-diglucoside of quercetin are all variously present. Tricin 7-glucoside, luteolin 7-rutinoside and several unchanged C-glycosylflavones were also detected. Male flowers of Phoenix canariensis differ from female flowers in having flavonol glycosides. As expected, in most species studied, flavonoid patterns in the flowers vary considerably from those found in the leaves.     

Phenolic compounds from parasitic Sapria himalayana f. albovinosa and Sapria myanmarensis (Rafflesiaceae) in Myanmar

Three anthocyanins, four flavonols, three aromatic acids and five gallotannins were isolated from Sapria himalayana f. albovinosa in Myanmar. They were identified as cyanidin 3-O-glucoside (1), cyanidin 3-O-xyloside (2) and peonidin 3-O-glucoside (3) (anthocyanins), quercetin 3-O-glucoside (4), quercetin 7-O-glucoside (5), quercetin 3-O-glucuronide (6) and isorhamnetin 3-O-glucoside (7) (flavonols), ellagic acid (8), gallic acid (9) and ethyl gallate (10) (aromatic acids), and 1,2,4,6-tetragalloylglucose (11), 1,4,6-trigalloylglucose (12), 1,2,6-trigalloylglucose (13), 1,2,4-trigalloylglucose (14) and 1,6-digalloylglucose (15) (gallotannins) by UV, LC-MS, acid hydrolysis, NMR and/or HPLC comparisons with authentic samples. The chemical composition of S. myanmarensis was qualitatively the same with that of S. himalayana f. albovinosa. Phenolic compounds of the Rafflesiaceae species including Sapria, Rafflesia and Rhizanthes were isolated and identified in this survey for the first time.     

Biologically-active flavonoids from Gossypium arboreum

A new flavonol glycoside, gossypetin 8-O-rhamnoside, was isolated from flower petals of Gossypium arboreum along with quercetin 7-O-glucoside, quercetin 3-O-glucoside and quercetin 3′-O-glucoside. These compounds showed antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas maltophilia and Enterobacter cloacae.     

Ein neues flavonolacetylglucosid aus Salix viminalis

Five flavonoids were isolated from the leaves of Salix viminalis. One, isorhamnetin 3-O- (6-acetylglucoside), is a new natural compound. Three of the others were isoquercitrin, apigenin 7- O-glucoside and isohamnetin 3-O- glucoside.     

Flavonoids in translucent bracts of the Himalayan<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Rheum nobile</Emphasis> (Polygonaceae) as ultraviolet shields

UV-absorbing substances were isolated from the translucent bracts of Rheum nobile, which grows in the alpine zone of the eastern Himalayas. Nine kinds of the UV-absorbing substances were found by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and paper chromatography (PC) surveys. All of the five major compounds are flavonoids, and were identified as quercetin 3-O-glucoside, quercetin 3-O-galactoside, quercetin 3-O-rutinoside, quercetin 3-O-arabinoside and quercetin 3-O-[6-(3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaroyl)-glucoside] by UV, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, mass spectra, and acid hydrolysis of the original glycosides, and direct PC and HPLC comparisons with authentic specimens. The four minor compounds were characterised as quercetin itself, quercetin 7-O-glycoside, kaempferol glycoside and feruloyl ester. Of those compounds, quercetin 3-O-[6-(3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaroyl)-glucoside] was found in nature for the first time. The translucent bracts of R. nobile accumulate a substantial quantity of flavonoids (3.3–5 mg per g dry material for the major compounds). Moreover, it was clarified by quantitative HPLC survey that much more of the UV-absorbing substances is present in the bracts than in rosulate leaves. Although the flavonoid compounds have been presumed to be the important UV shields in higher plants, there has been little characterisation of these compounds. In this paper, the UV-absorbing substances of the Himalayan R. nobile were characterised as flavonol glycosides based on quercetin.     

Further studies of flavonols of Clibadium (compositae)

The flavonoids of an additional eight species of Clibadium have been determined. The compounds are derivatives of kaempferol, quercetin and quercetagetin. O-Methylated quercetagetin derivatives were found in several taxa with the possibility that 6-methoxykaempferol may also exist in one collection. Kaempferol and quercetin exist as 3-O-glucosides, galactosides, rhamnosides, rutinosides and diglucosides although not all glycosides occur in each taxon. Quercetagetin derivatives occur as 7-O-glucosides. Observations on these newly investigated species confirm previous work in the genus that three types of flavonoid profiles exist: (1) kaempferol and quercetin 3-glycosides; (2) kaempferol and quercetin 3-glycosides plus quercetagetin 7-glucoside; and (3) kaempferol and quercetin 3-glycosides plus quercetagetin 7-glucoside and O-methylated derivatives of quercetagetin.