Anthocyanins and their distribution in the genusEpimedium

Anthocyanins contained in plants belonging to the genusEpimedium in Japan are discussed in this study. Two kinds of anthocyanin, delphinidin 3-p-coumaroyl-sophoroside-5-glucoside (cayratinin) and cyanidin 3-p-coumaroylsophoroside, were identified, and the latter is new to the literature. Only cayratinin was found in the colored petals of theEpimedium species, but cayratinin and cyanidin glucoside were contained in the stems, young leaves and autumn leaves of all the species surveyed.