[Studies on the chemical constituents in root of Gentiana macrophylla from Shaanxi].

OBJECTIVE: To in vestigate the constituents in root of Gentiana macrophylla. METHOD: Various column chromatographic techniques were used for isolation and purification of the principles. The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral data (UV, IR, MS, 1H-, 13C-NMR etc.) and identified by comparing with standard substance. RESULT: Eight compounds were identified. Four compounds isolated from the chloroform fraction are: 5-carboxyl-3,4-dihydrogen-1H-2-benzopyran-1-one (1), erythrocentauric acid (2), roburic acid (3), oleanolic acid (4). Water fraction gave four known secoiridoid glucosides. They were: gentiopicroside (5), swertiamarine (6), sweroside (7), 6'-O-beta-D-glucosylgentiopicroside (8). CONCLUSION: 1 is a novel compound. It was named as erythrocentauric acid. 2 was isolated from genus Gentiana and 8 was isolated from G. macrophylla for the first time.