Chemical investigation of the roots of Polygala sibirica L.

Aim: To investigate the chemical constituents of the roots of Polygala sibirica L. (Polygalaceae)

Method: The isolation was performed by solvent extraction and various chromatographic techniques, including silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, ODS, semi-preparative HPLC, and preparative TLC. The chemical structures were elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic analysis, including HR-ESI-MS and 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopic data.

Results: A total of sixteen compounds, including five xanthones (5, 7-10), five saccharide esters (1, 3, 4, 12, 13), two flavonoids (14, 16), two triterpenoids (11, 15), one phenylpropanoid (6), and one benzophenone glycoside (2) were isolated. Their structures were determined as sibiricose A7 (1), sibiriphenone A (2), polygalatenoside A (3), polygalatenoside C (4), lancerin (5), 3, 4, 5-trimethoxycinnamic acid (6), 6-hydroxy-1, 2, 3, 7-tetramethoxyxanthone (7), 1, 3, 7-trihydroxy-2-methoxyxanthone (8), onjixanthone II (9), 1, 2, 3, 6, 7-pentamethoxyxanthone (10), presenegenin (11), 3'-O-3, 4, 5-trimethoxycinnamoyl-6-O-4-methoxy benzoyl sucrose (12), tenuifoliside C (13), 5, 3'-dihydroxy-7, 4'-dimethoxyflavonol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (14), tenuifolin (15), and rhamnetin 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (16).

Conclusion: Compounds 1 and 2 are two new compounds from P. sibirica.