A chemosystematic study of eleven Geranium species

The flavonoids of 11 species from six sections (Geranium, Batrachioides, Lu cida, Unguiculata, Robertium, Erodioideae) of the genus Geranium have been studied. Quercetin and its derivatives were the most common aglycones with lesser amounts of kaempferol, myricetin and luteolin. Glycosylation was fou nd mainly in the 3 or 4' positions and to a lesser extent in the 7 position . Chemosystematic relationships are discussed. The occurrence of exudate fl avonoids various methyl ether of kaempferol, quercetin and myricetin has be en detected in all the 11 species surveyed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.