Constituents of Corynaea crassa “Peruvian Viagra”

A phytochemical investigation of methanol and n-hexane extracts of tuber/roots of Corynaea crassa Hook. f., Balanophoraceae, led to the isolation and characterization of β-sitosterol, lupenone, β-amyrone, lupeol, and β-amyrine. Unusual complex 1:1 mixtures of lupenone/β-amyrone and lupeol/β-amyrine obtained from the extracts were identified by NMR and HR-MS experiments. The structure of the 1:1 lupenone/β-amyrone mixture was confirmed by X-ray analysis. These triterpene ketone derivatives, only distinguished either by 5- or 6-membered E ring, co-crystallize in one common unit cell in the solid state.

Unusual complex 1:1 mixtures of lupenone/β-amyrone and lupeol/β-amyrine were isolated from Corynaea crassa. The structure of the 1:1 lupenone/β-amyrone mixture was confirmed by X-ray and these triterpene ketone derivatives, only distinguished either by 5- or 6-membered E ring, co-crystallize in one common unit cell in the solid state.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide