Flavonoids from shoots and roots of Trifolium repens (white clover) grown in presence or absence of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices

Abstract

White clover ( Trifolium repens) plants were grown in the presence or absence of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices. Flavones, 4 ′,5,6,7,8-pentahydroxy-3-methoxyflavone and 5,6,7,8-tetrahydroxy-3-methoxyflavone, as well as two flavones 3,7-dihydroxy-4 ′-methoxyflavone and 5,6,7,8-tetrahydroxy-4 ′-methoxyflavone never previously reported in plants, were isolated. The known 3,5,6,7,8-pentahydroxy-4 ′-methoxyflavone, 2 ′,3 ′,4 ′,5 ′,6 ′-pentahydroxy-chalcone, 6-hydroxykaempferol, 4 ′,5,6,7,8-pentahydroxyflavone and 3,4 ′-dimethoxykaempferol were also obtained. Analysis of extracts obtained from roots and shoots revealed that the compositions of the flavonoid mixtures varied with growing conditions. Quercetin, acacetin and rhamnetin accumulated in roots of inoculated plants, whereas they were not detected in non-inoculated plants.