Phenolic Compounds from Hedysarum vicioides (Fabaceae) in Japan

Abstract

Phenolic compounds in the leaves of Hedysarum vicioides, an alpine plant widely distributed in Japan, were surveyed. Four flavonol glycosides, quercetin 3-O-robinobioside, 3-O-rutinoside, 3-O-galactoside and 3-O-glucoside, and a xanthone glycoside, mangiferin were identified. Both types of phenolic compounds possess UV absorbing and antioxidant properties. The overall content of phenolic compounds decreased when the plants cultivated in a growth chamber and a glasshouse, compared to plants grown in their native habitat. Under cultivated conditions, the decrease of quercetin glycosides was particularly marked. Furthermore, we also extracted components from the specimens and compared the composition of the plant with that of another congeneric species distributed in Japan, and found the differences between the two species. We describe the chemotaxonomic and ecological significance of the isolated compounds.