Nine compounds were isolated and identified from the stem of Picramnia anti
desma. Two of the isolated compounds: mayoside and saroside, which is new,
are diastereoisomeric oxanthrones. The structure of saroside has been obtai
ned on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. The absolute configuration of t
his diastereoisomeric pair has been determined by CD spectra, and that of s
aroside was further established by X-ray crystallographic analysis. (C) 199
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