PROANTHOCYANIDINS FROM LOTUS-CORNICULATUS

The chemical structure of the purified proanthocyanidin polymers of Lo tus corniculatus was analysed by C-13 NMR and by mild acid catalysed d egradation in the presence of excess of phloroglucinol. The NMR data s howed that the polymer was partially glycosidated with a number averag e M(r) in the range 1800-2100 (six to seven flavanoid units). The prod ucts from phloroglucinol scission reaction indicated the extender flav an units to consist mostly of epicatechin (67%) and epigallocatechin ( 30%), with minor amounts of catechin and epiafzelechin units, which we re linked together predominantly by C-4/C-8 interflavanoid bonds. The polymer chains were terminated mostly by catechin (83%) and, to a less er extent, by epicatechin (16%).