Studies on the Constituents of the Seeds of Hernandia ovigera L. III. Structures of Two New Lignans

Abstract

Two kinds of lignans were isolated from the seeds of Hernandia ovigera L. (Hernandiaceae) besides the previously reported desoxypodophyllotoxin (DPT), desoxypicropodophyllin, bursehernin and podorhizol, and the structures of the lignans were clarified. One, C₂₃H₂₄O₈, named hernandin, was identified as 5-methoxy-desoxypodophyllotoxin (I) by both chemical and X-ray crystallographic methods. The other, C₂₂H₁₈O₇, was obtained by purification of a previously isolated impure substance, mp 270-275°C. This compound was identified as 1, 2, 3, 4-dehydrodesoxypodophyllotoxin (II). This is the first report of the natural occurrence of II in plants.