Withanolides from Withania somnifera roots

• DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2007.10.024
• Publication Date: 2007-12-06T17:57:08Z
• Authors: Laxminarain Misra; Priyanka Mishra; Archana Pandey; Rajender S. Sangwan; Neelam S. Sangwan; Rakesh Tuli
• Keywords: 0303 health sciences; 03 medical and health sciences; Glucosides; Molecular Structure; Plant Extracts; Stigmasterol; Withania; Plant Roots; Sitosterols; Withanolides

Two new and seven known withanolides along with beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol, beta-sitosterol glucoside, stigmasterol glucoside, alpha+beta glucose were isolated from the roots of Withania somnifera. Among the known compounds, Viscosa lactone B, stigmasterol, stigmasterol glucoside and alpha+beta glucose are being reported from the roots of W. somnifera for the first time. One of the new compounds contained the rare 16beta-acetoxy-17(20)-ene the other contained unusual 6alpha-hydroxy-5,7alpha-epoxy functional groups in the withasteroid skeleton. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and chemical transformations.