[Chemical constituents from the twigs and leaves of Melodinus suaveolens].

Objective: To investigate the chemical constituents from the twigs and leaves of Melodinus suaveolens.

Methods: The chemical consituents were separated and purified by column chromatographies with silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, ODS and RP-HPLC. Their structures were identified on the basis of physicochemical properties and spectral analysis.

Results: Ten compounds were isolated and identified as ursolic acid (1), 22alpha-hydroxyursolic acid (2), betulinic acid (3), betulinic alcohol (4), 2,3-dihydroxy-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl) -propan-1-one (5), (+)-isolariciresinol (6), (+/-)-liquiritigenin (7), salicylic acid (8), beta-sitosterol (9) and daucosterol (10), respectively.

Conclusion: NMR spectra of compound 2 are reported for the first time, and compounds 1 - 10 are firstly isolated from this plant.