Abstract
Genus Viola has been used as a Chinese herbal medicine, SHIKAJICHO, for some diseases, an antipyretic, a painkiller, etc. "Shikajicho" included whole dry viola plants and several species spices of them. It has been reported that one of the functional substances was vicenin-2, apigenin glycoside, one of flavonoid compound. We have been investigating the flavonid components produced from vilola and already reported the chemical systematics in genus viola of Japan. To study bio-active products and their related biosynthesis would be important for the evolution of the study in wild grass. The leaves of three species in viola plant, V.japonica japonica, V.Phalacrocarpa, V.Yedoensis, were collected and analyzed by HPLC and LC-ESI/MS. Wogonin glycoside was first isolated in V.japonica in this study. We will discuss these substances and their function among them with anti-oxidant activities etc.
