Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 32 (2004) 447–448

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A novel flavonoid from Polygala chinensis

Meneni Srinivasa Rao a,, N.V. Raman b
a
Department of Biomedical sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
b
Department of Chemistry, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK76AA, England, UK
Received 20 June 2002; accepted 21 October 2003

Keywords: Polygala chinensis; Polygalaceae; Whole plant; Ombuin-3-b-rutinoside; Flavonoid

1. Subject and source

Polygala chinensis Geissman (Polygalaceae), a herb with glabrescent leaves and

yellow flowers found in open places and grasslands, grows widely in India.
The whole plant of P. chinensis was collected in October 2001 from Nagarjuna
University Campus, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India. A voucher specimen of the
plant material (No. PC: 101) is preserved in the herbarium of Department of Bot-
any, Sri Krishna Devaraya University (SKU), Anantapur, India.

2. Previous work

Lignans and flavonol glycosides have previously been reported from P. chinensis
(Ghosal et al., 1974a–c; Rao et al., 2003).

3. Present study

The dried whole plant of P. chinensis was extracted with MeOH for 5 h. The
concentrated extract was purified by column chromatography over silica gel to
obtain ombuin 3-b-rutinoside (Fig. 1). The spectral (UV and 1H NMR) properties
of the compound were found to be identical to those reported earlier (Inigo and


Corresponding author. Tel.: +1-401-874-5029.
E-mail address: rao_ms@yahoo.com (M.S. Rao).

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doi:10.1016/j.bse.2003.10.009
448 M.S. Rao, N.V. Raman / Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 32 (2004) 447–448

Fig. 1. Ombuin-3-b-rutinoside.

Pomilio, 1985). We have also confirmed the structure by 13C NMR, 2D NMR and
MS. This is the first report of the isolation of the compound from P. chinensis.

4. Chemotaxonomic significance

Ombuin-3-b-rutinoside and related flavonoids have previously been isolated

(Inigo and Pomilio, 1985) from other Polygala species. These flavonoids may be
useful taxonomic markers within the genus.

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the Oakland University, USA and The Open Univer-
sity, UK for financial assistance.

References
Ghosal, S., Chauhan, R.P.S., Srivastava, R.S., 1974a. Phytochemistry 13, 2281.
Ghosal, S., Chauhan, R.P.S., Srivastava, R.S., 1974b. Phytochemistry 13, 1933.
Ghosal, S., Chauhan, R.P.S., Srivastava, R.S., 1974c. Plant Biochemistry Journal 1, 64.
Inigo, R.P.A., Pomilio, A.B., 1985. Phytochemistry 24, 347.
Rao, M.S., Rao, P.S., Kumar, J.K., Raman, N.V., Khalilullah, M., 2003. Biochemical Systematics and
Ecology 31, 635–636.