Chemical constituents from the root of Damnacanthus officinarum Huang

• We report the phytochemical investigation on Damnacanthus officinarum Huang.
• A new anthraquinone glycoside, along with six known compounds were obtained.
• The study indicates relationship between D. officinarum Huang and M. officinalis.

The present phytochemical investigation on Damnacanthus officinarum Huang led to the isolation of a new anthraquinone glycoside named digiferruginol-11-O-β-gentiobioside, along with six known compounds, including anthraquinone glycosides, iridoid glycoside and etc. In the study, compounds (2–7) were isolated for the first time from D. officinarum Huang and Damnacanthus genus. The found of compounds (1–4, 6 and 7) indicate a close relationship between D. officinarum Huang and Morinda officinalis, which may be as chemotaxonomic markers for the tribe Morindeae