Delphinidin 3 '-galloylgalactosides from blue flowers of Nymphaea caerulea

Two novel acylated anthocyanins have been isolated from blue flowers of the African water lily Nymphaea caerulea (= Nymphaea capensis). By a combinati on of chromatography, electrospray MS and homo- and heteronuclear two-dimen sional NMR techniques they were identified to be delphinidin 3'-O-(2 "-O-ga lloyl-beta-galactopyranoside) (1) and delphinidin 3'- O-(2 "-O-galloyl-6 "- O-acetyl-beta-galactopyranoside) (2). Contrary to other anthocyanidin 3'-gl ycosides reported, 1 and 2 have the monosaccharide galactose instead of glu cose on the B-ring and no glycosyl moiety on the anthocyanidin 3-position. The chemotaxonomic significance of anthocyanidin galloylgalactosides in Nym phaeaceae is discussed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.