Studies on the Constituents of Aloe sapnaria Haw. I. The Structures of Tetrahydroanthracene Derivatives and the Related Anthraquinones

Abstract

The constituents of fresh young subterranean stem of Aloe saponaria Haw. were examined to give six pigments; aloesaponols I,-II, aloesaponarins I,-II, laccaic acid D methyl ester and desoxyerythrolaccin. On the basis of the spectral and chemical evidences the structures of aloesaponols I,-II and aloesaponarins I,-II were established to be I, II, IV and VI, respectively, in relation with laccaic acid D methyl ester (III) and desoxyerythrolaccin (V). Aloesaponols I, and -II were the first tetrahydroanthracene homologue obtained from the higher plant. © 1974, The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan. All rights reserved.