Abstract
Fraxinus verecunda Koidz., a large tree that grows on the Ohmine mountain in Nara Prefecture (western part of Japan) belongs to F. sect. Fraxinaster and is totally different from F. sect. Ornus. The aqueous extract of its bark docs not show any fluorescence in which it resembles those of the same classification, F. Mandshurica Reprecht and its variety, var. japonica Max. Syringin, m.p. 192-193°, was obtained from the bark of F. verecunda. Its oxidation with potassium permanganate yielded glycosyringaic acid, m.p. 208°, whose hydrolysis gave syringaic acid, m.p. 205-206°. Syringin was first isolated from the bark of lilac, Syringa vulgaris L. From the fact that it had been found in the bark of F. verecunda belonging to the same Oleaceae family, it is assumed that syringin is widely distributed in the plants of Oleaceae. A kind of phytosterol of m.p. 134-135° (acetate, m.p. 115-116°) was also obtained with syringin. from the same plant This sterol is probably identical with the phytosterol, m.p. 134-135° (acetate, m.p. 117°) of C26H44O, obtained from the bark of Ligustrum vulgare by Zellnerr and Werner (Monatsch. 47, 151 (1926)).
