Homoisoflavonids and stilbenoids from Scilla species.

Abstract

Bulbs of Scilla natalensis Planch, Scilla nervosa (Burch.) Jessop, Scilla dracomontana Hilliard and Burt and Scilla kraussii Bak. (Hyacinthaceae) were investigated. The plants are widely used by the local African people for a variety of ailments that inflict them and their livestock. Plant material was harvested in different localities i.e. KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and Mpumalanga (Mpl). The bulbs have been found to contain homoisoflavonoids and stilbenoids. Ten homoisoflavonoids and two stilbenoids were isolated. Of the ten homoisoflavonoids isolated, nine were of the 3-benzyl-4-chromanone type while one was a 3-benzylidene-4-chromanone. Four of the 3-benzyl-4-chromanones were found to be novel compounds while others were recognised as having been reported before from other genera within the family Hyacinthaceae viz., Eucomis and Muscari. The 3-benzylidene-4-chromanone type compound isolated was also found to be a known compound. The stilbenoids, on the other hand, are reported for the first time in this genus although they seem to have a wide distribution in the plant kingdom. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated using spectroscopic methods.