Flavonoids chemistry of the adonis amurensis complex in eastern Asia

Abstract

Flavonoids were isolated and identified from flowers and/or leaves of the Adonis amurensis complex. This complex has been a persistent source of taxonomic confusion due to the exclusive use of continuous variation in flower morphology for species definition and recognition. Nineteen flavonoids, including C‐glycosylflavones, O‐glycosylflavones, and flavonol O‐glycosides were characterized. The flavonoids isolated from flowers and leaves of the A. amurensis complex were not the same. The phenogram indicated three major clusters; A. multiflora, A. ramosa‐A. pseudoamurensis, and A. amurensis. A. amurensis was characterized by a higher flavonoid diversity composed of a variety of C‐glycosylflavones, while A. multiflora was generally characterized by a reduced flavonoid profiles. It is probable that evolutionary advancement is reflected in loss of some of C‐glycosylflavone and all of O‐glycosylflavone synthesis, resulting in A. multiflora within this series. The present study has demonstrated that the flavonoid chemistry may indeed be as variable as the morphological features, and no significant flavonoid differences at the species level were observed. It was suggested that parallel and/or radiate modes of evolution could have taken place within this complex.