Four isoflavones from the stem bark of erythrina sacleuxii

Abstract

From the stem bark of Erythrina sacleuxii four new isoflavones were isolated and characterized as 5,7-dihydroxy-2′,4′,5′-trimethoxyisoflavone (trivial name, 7-demethylrobustigenin), 5,7-dihydroxy-4′-methoxy3′-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)isoflavone [3′-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)biochanin A], 5,7,3′-trihydroxy-4′-methoxy-5′-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)isoflavone [5′-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)pratensein] and 5,7,3′-trihydroxy-4′-methoxy-5′-formylisoflavone (5′-formylpratensein). The structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic evidence.