XANTHONES FROM SWERTIA-PUNICEA

Two known xanthones, decussatin [1] and gentiacaulein [2], were isolated from the aerial parts of Swertia punicea by means of cc and preparative tlc. Three known compounds, decussatin [1], methyl swertianin [3], and 1-hydroxy-3,5,7,8-tetramethylxanthone [4], and a new compound, 1,8-dihydroxy-2,4,6-trimethoxyxanthone [5], were also isolated from the cultured tissue of the same plant. Their structure elucidations were carried out by spectral data and chemical transformation to known compounds. Compound 5 was converted into two new xanthones, 1-hydroxy-2,4,6,8-tetramethoxyxanthone [6] and 1,2,4,6,8-pentamethoxyxanthone [7].