Chemical constituents of Cardiospermum corindum L. and their distribution in Sapindaceae

Phytochemical investigation on the aerial parts of Cardiospermum corindum L. led to the isolation of two triterpenes [friedelin (1) and friedelinol (2)], two coumarins, [umbelliferone (4) and scopoletin (5)], three methoxylated flavones [umuhengerin (3), luteolin 3',4'-dimethyl ether (6) and chrysoeriol (7)], one non-cyanogenic glucoside [epidermin (8)] and one cyclitol [(L)-quebrachitol (9)]. To our knowledge, 2, 3, 6 and 8 were isolated for the first time within Sapindaceae. Of these classes of metabolites, the distribution of methoxylated flavonoids in Cardiospermum is reviewed, including the new records, indicating that polymethoxylated flavonoid (3) may be value as chemotaxonomic markers for this genus.