Chemotaxonomic studies in the Saxifragaceae s.l. 10. The flavonoids of Heuchera cylindrica

Abstract

Flavonoids (33) were isolated from H. cylindrica Dougl. var. glabella (T. and G.) Wheelock and at least partially identified. The flavonols kaempferol, quercetin, isorhamnetin, myricetin and syringetin and the flavone luteolin were found. The flavonols occur in a variety of glycosylated forms, monoglycosides, diglycosides, triglycosides and gallylated monoglycosides, although not all flavonols exist in all of these forms. Luteolin occurs only as the 7-O-glucoside. Several collections of varieties glabella and cylindrica exhibited identical flavonoid patterns as judged by TLC. Flavonoids, thus, cannot be used as varietal markers. Comparison of the flavonoids of H. cylindrica with those of H. micrantha shows differences which suggest simplification in the flavonoid chemistry associated with evolution within the genus.