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Extracts from Ulex europaeus L. (Fabaceae) were tested for antiviral activity against HSV-1 and poliovirus. It was found that the n-butanolic extract significantly inhibited the replication of these viruses, as shown by inhibition of cytophathic effects and reduction of plaques; the extract has neither a prophylactic nor a virucidal activity. From this extract has been isolated and identified by chromatographic, chemical, and spectroscopic methods, the 5-O-methylgenistein 7-O-beta D-glucopyranoside. This isoflavonic glycoside has not been previously described and it is responsible at least partially for the antiviral activity.

Leaves of Hosta ventricosa yielded eight kaempferol glycosides, of which six: the 3-(2G-glucosylrutinoside)-7-glucoside, 3-sophoroside-7-glucoside, 3-rutinoside-7-glucoside, 3-(2G-glucosylrutinoside), 3-sophoroside, 3-rutinoside were fully characterized and two: the 3-xylosylrutinoside-7-glucoside and 3-xylosylrutinoside were tentatively identified. Investigations included 1H-1H COSY and 1H-1H 2D J NMR analysis.

Eight flavone glycosides were isolated from fronds of Asplenium normale, its two varieties, var. boreale and var. shimurae, and related species, A. oligophlebium. Six of the glycosides were identified: apigenin 7-O-dirhamnoside and 7-O-glucosylrhamnoside, luteolin 7-O-dirhamnoside and 7-O-glucosylrhamnoside, genkwanin 4'-O-glucosylrhamnoside, and vicenin-2. The remaining two glycosides were tentatively characterized as genkwanin 4'-O-glycoside and 6,8-di-C-glycosylluteolin. The four taxa analysed in this survey all had distinctive flavonoid profiles.

Three new flavonol triglycosides quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin 3-rhamnosyl(1----2)galactoside-7-glucosides have been isolated from leaves and stems of Blackstonia perfoliata. This species together with three other genera of the tribe Gentianeae, subtribe Chlorae: Centaurium, Coutoubea and Eustoma, is unusual in producing flavonol glycosides instead of C-glycosyl flavones, the more characteristic flavonoid constituents of the Gentianaceae.

Two new flavonol glycosides from the seeds of Chenopodium quinoa have been isolated. Their structures were established as kaempferol 3-apiofuranosyl(1"'----2")rhamnopyranosyl(1""----6")galactoside and kaempferol 3-apiofuranosyl(1"'----2")rhamnopyranosyl(1""----6")galactoside. The main flavonoid glycoside was kaempferol 3-(2,6-dirhamnopyranosyl)galactoside.

The flavonoid constituents of various spices were separated by means of chromatography on cellulose colums, and the following compounds were obtained crystalline: Quercetin 3-glucuronide from caraway, fennel, anise, and coriander; isoquercitrin from caraway and fennel; rutin from fennel and anise; quercetin 3-O-caffeylglucoside and kaempferol 3-glucoside from caraway; quercetin 3-arabinoside from fennel, and luteolin 7-glucoside, isoorientin and isovitexin from anise. Other constitutents which were however not obtained crystalline, but which could be identified by the usual procedures were kaempferol 3-glucuronide and kaempferol 3-arabinoside in fennel, apigenin 7-glucoside and a luteolin glycoside in anise, and isoquercitrin and rutin in coriander. The glycosides contained in the fruit of the four spices also occur in the leaves. Leaves of caraway and fennel in addition contain isorhammetin glycosides in low concentration.

Two spectrophotometric methods (conventional and differential) are carried out for the estimation of flavone glycosides (hyperoside and/or kaempferol-3-beta-glucoside) in Euphorbia paralias L., and Euphorbia helioscopia L. The glycosides are extracted with methanol from the aerial parts of the different Euphorbia species, separated on silica gel chromatoplates, and eluted by refluxing with methanol (80%). The absorbance value (conventional method) and the delta absorbance value (differential method) of the prepared glycosidal solutions are measured. The results of both methods are of conveinent reproducibility.

The flavonoids of two diploid species of Phlox and two of their allotetraploid derivatives were characterized. The tetraploids accumulate five flavonoids not observed in the parental species. Generally, novel compounds are less highly glycosidated than, but otherwise similar to, parental compounds that they partially or totally replace. We propose that hybridity and polyploidy have repressed or suppressed the activity of certain ancestral genes responsible for the production of glycosidating enzymes. Accordingly, the novel compounds are merely the accumulated or modified precursors of parental compounds.