The first reported phytochemical studies on two species of flowers in Australia enabled the identification of six secondary metabolites from Illawarra flame tree flower (Brachychiton acerifolius) and seven secondary metabolites from the flowers of the Alstonville (Tibouchina lepidota). Pelargonidin 3-(6-coumarylglucoside)-5-(6-acetylglucoside) was found to be responsible for the red colour of B. acerifolius, whereas malvidin 3-(coumarylglucoside)-5-(acetylxyloside) was responsible for the purple colour of (T. lepidota) flowers. (2S)-4,5-Dihydroxyflavanone 7-O-β-d-glucuronide methyl ester was isolated for the first time from B. acerifolius, and its absolute configuration was determined by circular dichroism spectroscopy. Some of the traditional uses of B. acerifolius could also be correlated with the known activity of the isolated metabolites.
AbstractThe first reported phytochemical studies into two species of flowers in Australia resulted in the identification of six secondary metabolites from Illawarra flame tree flower (Brachychiton acerifolius) and seven from the flowers of the Alstonville (Tibouchina lepidota). Pelargonidin 3-(6-coumarylglucoside)-5-(6-acetyl-glucoside) was found to be responsible for the red colour from B. acerifolius while malvidin 3-(coumarylglucoside)-5-(acetylxyloside) for the purple colour from (T. lepidota) flowers. (2S)-4,5-Dihydroxylavanone 7-O-β-D-glucuronide methyl ester was isolated for the first time from B acerifolius and its absolute configuration was determined by circular dichroism spectroscopy. Some of the traditional uses of B. aerifoius could also be correlated to the known activity of the isolated metabolites.Before European settlement of Australia, the indigenous people used plants and flowers for numerous purposes including as nutrients, medicine, and dyes. [1] Australia has over 30,000 described species of vascular plants which grow in a wide range of climatic types encompassed by the continent allowing a diversity of plants and flowers unlike any other country. [2] However, there is limited information available pertaining to the phytochemical studies of Australian flowers.