Phenolic glycosides of forage legume Onobrychis viciifolia

A chemical examination of the extractives of the leaves of sainfoin was und ertaken as part of a programme directed at understanding the factors which may contribute to its nutritive value as animal feed. Among the low molecul ar weight phenolic compounds characterized were seven cinnamic acid derivat ives and nine flavonoid glycosides all of which were identified by NMR spec troscopy. Included among these compounds were two new natural hydroxycinnam ic eaters namely methyl 6-O-p-trans-coumaroyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside and me thyl 6-O-p-cis-coumaroyr-beta-D-glucopyranoside and a novel flavonoid chrys oeriol-4'-O-(6"-O-acetyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.