STUDIES ON THE LIGNAN GLYCOSIDES FROM GAULTHERIA YUNNANENSIS

AIM: To study the chemical constituents of the Chinese herbal drug Dianbaizhu, the root of Gaultheria yunnanensis, in order to determine its active constituents. METHODS: Using 95% ethanol extraction, silica gel and polyamide column chromatography and various spectral analysis to isolate pure compounds and determine their structures. RESULTS: Four lignan glycosides have been isolated from the n-butanol fraction of the roots of Gaultheria yunnanensis. On the basis of physicochemical and spectral data, they were elucidated as (-)-isolariciresinol-2a-O-β-D-xylopyranoside (D_{1), (+)-lyoniresinol-2a-O-α-L-arabinopyranoside (D2), (-)-5′-methoxyisolariciresinol-2a-O-β-D-xylopyranoside (D3) and (+)-lyoniresinol-2a-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (D4). CONCLUSION: Compound D2 is a new compound named gaultheroside A, while D1, D3 and D4 were isolated form the family Ericaceae for the first time.}