Glycoside primers of Psittacanthus cucullaris

Bioassay-directed chromatographic separation of the ethyl acetate extract o f the whole plant of Psittacanthus cucullaris afforded a new phenolic xylos ide, ellagic acid-4-O-beta-xyloside-3,3',4'-trimethyl ether (1) together wi th four known compounds, ellagic acid-4-O-beta-xyloside-3,3'-dimethyl ether (2), gallic acid, beta-sitosterol, and beta-sitosterol beta-D-glucoside. T he structure of the new compound was determined by spectroscopic methods. L ike other beta-D-xylosides, compounds 1 and 2 stimulated the formation of g lycosaminoglycan chains when fed to the cultured Chinese hamster ovary cell s.