Flavonoids from Ziziphus jujuba Mill var. spinosa

Eight flavonoid compounds were isolated from the seeds of Ziziphus jujuba M ill var. Spinosa. On the basis of chemical and spectral analyses their stru ctures were elucidated as swertish (1), puerarin (2), 6'''-feruloylspinosin (3), apigenin-6-C-beta -D-glucopyranoside (4), spinosin (5), 6'''-feruloyl isospinosin (6), isospinosin (7), and isovitexin-2 " -O-beta -D-glucopyrano side (8). Flavonoids 6 and 7 are novel compounds. Rotamers exist for compou nds 1, 3 and 5, which are reported for the first time. Compounds 2, 4 and 8 were isolated from this plant for the first time. Spinosin and swertish po ssess significant sedative activity. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rig hts reserved.