Abstract
Phenolic constituents of young subterranean stems of Aloe saponaria HAW. were investigated to give aloesaponol III, -IV, chrysophanol, helminthosporin and 1, 4, 8-trihydroxy-2-methoxy-6-methyl-anthraquinone (isoxanthorin). The structures of aloesaponol III and -IV were established to be 1-oxo-4 (S, equatorial), 8, 9-trihydroxy-6-methyl-1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydroanthracene and 1-oxo-4 (quasi-equatorial), 8, 9-trihydroxy-2-methoxy (equatorial)-6-methyl-1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydroanthracene on the basis of chemical and spectral evidences. The application of the extended benzoate chirality rule was attempted to determine the absolute configuration of hydroxyl group in aloesaponol I and -III.
