STUDIES ON THE CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF ECLIPTA PROSTRATA (L)

AIM　To study the chemical constituents of Eclipta prostrata (L). METHODS　The constituents of E.prostrata were systematically separated with the Bohlmann method and percolation and hot extraction methods, and various chromatographies. The structures were elucidated by chemical and spectroscopic means. RESULTS　Ten compounds were isolated from the Eclipta prostrata. Their structures were determined as wedelolactone (1), demethylwedelolactone (2), isodemethylwedelolactone (3), α-formylterthienyl (4), strychnolactone (5), β-sitosterol (6), nonacosanol (7), stearic acid (8), lacceroic acid (9), 3,4-dihydoxy benzoic acid (10). Fourteen ocmpounds, including hydrocarbons and its esters were identified by GC-MS from the least polar fractions. CONCLUSION　Compound 3 is a new coumestan named isodemethylwedelolactone. Compounds 2-10 and compounds characterized by GC-MS analysis were obtained for the first time from Eclipta prostrata.