E. C. Bate-smith, S. Davenport, J. Harborne
Oct 1, 1967
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0
Influential Citations
121
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Quality indicators
Journal
Phytochemistry
Abstract
Abstract A correlation between flavonoid chemistry and plant geography has been discovered among Eucryphia species. The rare quercetin 5-monomethyl- and 3,5-dimethyl ethers, azaleatin and caryatin, have been identified in leaf of the two South American species E. cordifolia and E. glutinosa and in two of their hybrids. Caryatin occurs in the free state but azaleatin is present as the 3-galactoside, as a 3-arabinosylgalactoside and as a 3-diglucoside; the 3-galactoside, 3-rhamnoside and a 3-diglycoside of quercetin are also present. Neither of the above methyl ethers occurs in leaf of the other three known Eucryphia species, all of which are of Australian origin. These three species have a much simpler flavonoid pattern: E. milliganii has dihydroquercetin glycoside, E. moorei a quercetin 3-triglycoside and E. lucida kaempferol 3,7-dimethyl ether as the respective major leaf constituents. This survey represents a complete coverage of the Eucryphiaceae as at present constituted and the bearing of these results on the taxonomic position of the family are discussed.