STUDIES ON THE CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF SWERTIA DAVIDA FRANCH

AIMTo study the active constituents of Swertia davidi Franch.. METHODSChromatography was used to isolate and purify the chemical components, their structures were identified by spectral analysis. RESULTS Three compounds were identified as 1,7-dihydroxy-3,8-dimethoxyxanthone (gentiacaulein) (V), 1,8-dihydroxy-3,7-dimethoxyxanthone (methylswertianin) (VI) and 1,8-dihydroxy-3,4,7-trimethoxyxanthone (VII). CONCLUSION Compound VII is a novel xanthone, named daviditin A, the others were isolated from Swertia davidi Franch. for the first time.