Secondary metabolites from Saururus chinensis and their chemotaxonomic significance

• Compound 3 was a natural product. Compounds 1, 2, 8 and 10 were firstly reported from the family Saururaceae.
• Sauchinone-like neolignans (6 and 11) and C13-norisoprenoids (14 and 15) may serve as specific markers of Saururus chinensis.
• It is firstly reported of the possible biosynthesis pathway for sauchinone-like neolignans (6 and 11).

Phytochemical investigation of the whole plants of Saururus chinensis resulted in the isolation of two sesquiterpenes (1 and 2), five lignans (3-7), one alkaloid (8) and two steroids (9 and 10). Among them, compound 3 has not been reported as a natural product before. Compounds 1, 2, 8 and 10 were firstly reported from the family Saururaceae. The possible biosynthesis pathway for sauchinone-like neolignans (6 and 11) was also firstly proposed. Furthermore, the chemotaxonomic significance of these compounds was summarized.

Ten compounds were obtained including two eudesmane sesquiterpenes (1 and 2), five lignans (3–7), one alkaloid (8) and two steroids (9–10) (Fig. 1). Among them, compound 3 has not been reported as a natural product before. Compounds 1, 2, 8 and 10 were firstly reported from the family Saururaceae.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide