Studies on the constituents of Lyonia ovalifolia Drude var. elliptica Hand-Mazz. XVI. Structure of triterpenoid glucose, lyofolic acid. (2)

Abstract

The structure of lyofolic acid (I) has been suggested to be a glucoside of a tetracyclic triterpenecarboxylic acid with a cyclopropane ring and an acetyl group on the basis of chemical reactions and physical data of its derivatives. The aglycone, lyofoligenic acid (II) obtained by acid hydrolysis of I, no longer possesses the cyclopropane ring, since the latter was converted into a methyl group and a tetrasubstituted ethylenic linkage during the hydrolysis. On the other hand, protolyofoligenic acid (XIV), having a cyclopropane ring, has been isolated from the extract of the leaves and proved to be the intrinsic aglycone of I.