Characterisation of new oligoglycosidic compounds in two Chinese medicinal herbs

A series of caffeic acid derivatives (3,5‐dicaffeoyl‐quinic acid, 3,4‐dicaffeoyl‐quinic acid, and 4,5‐dicaffeoyl‐quinic acid), and the new compound β,3,4‐trihydroxyphenethyl‐ O ‐[β‐apiofuranosyl‐(1→4)‐α‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→3)]‐(4‐ O ‐caffeoyl)‐β‐glucopyranoside (wedelosin), as well as three known flavonoid glycosides (quercetin 3‐ O ‐β‐glucoside, kaempferol 3‐ O ‐β‐apiosyl‐(1‐2)‐β‐glucoside, and astragalin or kaempferol 3‐ O ‐β‐glucoside) were isolated from the Chinese medicinal herb Wedelia chinensis . Wedelosin showed an inhibitory activity on both the classical and the alternative activation pathway of the complement system. Another Chinese medicinal herb, Kyllinga brevifolia , yielded two known flavonoid glycosides [kaempferol 3‐ O ‐β‐apiosyl‐(1‐2)‐β‐glucoside and isorhamnetin 3‐ O ‐β‐apiosyl‐(1‐2)‐β‐glucoside], and a new quercetin triglycoside [quercetin 3‐ O ‐β‐apiofuranosyl‐(1→2)‐β‐glucopyranoside 7‐ O ‐α‐rhamnopyranoside]. The latter compound showed a moderate anti‐viral activity. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.