The chemistry of the genus Satureja (syn. Calamintha) (Labiatae) has not been thoroughly studied. Previous reports (1)(2)(3)(4) indicate the presence of ursolic, epiursolic, and oleanolic acids, and two 3,4seco-tri terpenoids, calainthadiol and isocalaminthadiol (3,4). We report here the content of secondary metabolites of three species, Satureja acinos (L.) Scheele, Satureja montana L., and Satureja obovata Lag., collected in central Spain.Besides a new triterpene, of the ursene type, other known triterpenes, such as oleanolic, ursolic, or crataegolic acid, have been isolated from these species, ß-Sitosterol^-D-glucoside is common to the three species. Naringenin 7-0rutinoside and eriodictyol 7-0rutinoside has been isolated from S. acinos and S. montana, respectively. The presence of these flavanone glycosides was previously described in the peels of navel and valencia oranges (5) and lemons (6), respectively, and the structure of the naringenin glycoside (narirutin) confirmed by synthesis (7).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONChromatography of the crude Me2CO extract obtained from S. acinos afforded compound 1 plus ursolic acid and the glucoside of ß-sitosterol. The two latter compounds were identified by compari-son of their physical constants and spectral data with those of authentic specimens and further confirmed by the preparation of derivatives.