Xanthones from Swertia punctata

Abstract

Isolation of 1-O-primeverosyl-3,8-dihydroxy-5-methoxyxanthone and 1-O-gentiobiosyl- 3,7-dimethoxy-8-hydroxyxanthone, along with five known xanthones, isobellidifolin, methylbellidifolin, isoswertianin, methylswertianin and norswertianin-1-O-beta-D-glucoside, from the roots of Swertia punctata is reported. In the aerial parts four xanthones, bellidifolin, methylbellidifolin, swertianolin and mangiferin, and flavone-C-gluco side, isoorientin were identified. The chemotaxonomic and pharmacological significance of these results is discussed. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.