Genus Melilotus Research Articles

A comparative plastome approach enhances the assessment of genetic variation in the Melilotus genus

BackgroundMelilotus, a member of the Fabaceae family, is a pivotal forage crop that is extensively cultivated in livestock regions globally due to its notable productivity and ability to withstand abiotic stress. However, the genetic attributes of the chloroplast genome and the evolutionary connections among different Melilotus species remain unresolved.ResultsIn this study, we compiled the chloroplast genomes of 18 Melilotus species and performed a comprehensive comparative analysis. Through the examination of protein-coding genes, we successfully established a robust phylogenetic tree for these species. This conclusion is further supported by the phylogeny derived from single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across the entire chloroplast genome. Notably, our findings revealed that M. infestus, M. siculus, M. sulcatus, and M. speciosus formed a distinct subgroup within the phylogenetic tree. Additionally, the chloroplast genomes of these four species exhibit two shared inversions. Moreover, inverted repeats were observed to have reemerged in six species within the IRLC. The distribution patterns of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and insertions/deletions (InDels) within protein-coding genes indicated that ycf1 and ycf2 accumulated nonconservative alterations during evolutionary development. Furthermore, an examination of the evolutionary rate of protein-coding genes revealed that rps18, rps7, and rpl16 underwent positive selection specifically in Melilotus.ConclusionsWe present a comparative analysis of the complete chloroplast genomes of Melilotus species. This study represents the most thorough and detailed exploration of the evolution and variability within the genus Melilotus to date. Our study provides valuable chloroplast genomic information for improving phylogenetic reconstructions and making biogeographic inferences about Melilotus and other Papilionoideae species.

Anaemia in Ruminants Caused by Plant Consumption.

Simple SummaryPlant poisoning is an underdiagnosed condition affecting livestock, and is especially important in ruminants. It is necessary for the veterinary practitioner to consider these aetiologic agents when confronting anaemia in ruminants. Although many of these plants are well-known by veterinarians and farmers, their toxic effects remain unnoticed by many of them. Due to the poisonous clinical signs, anaemia caused by plant consumption should be divided into two groups: haemorrhagic disorders and haemolytic disorders. The knowledge of their presence and possible consumption of the plant, together with the clinical signs, will lead to early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of the affected animals. The objective of this review is to show and organise the plants that most frequently produce anaemia in ruminants based on the two groups previously described.Plant toxicology has affected animals throughout evolution. Plants have adapted themselves to the environment. This adaptation has led to the development of defensive strategies to avoid being consumed. Plants have several chemical compounds, which can cause deleterious effects on people or animals that consume them, causing a wide variety of clinical signs. Plants from various latitudes, both cultivated for human and animal feeding or decorative purpose and even wild growth plants are able to generate anaemia in ruminants. Coumarins or ptaquiloside predispose bleeding and haemorrhages, causing a haemorrhagic disease in affected animals. In this group, some important fodder plants, such sweet clover (Genus Melilotus spp.), or other weeds distributed worldwide, such as bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum) of giant fennel (Ferula communis), are included. On the other hand, sulfur-containing chemicals (e.g., n-propyl disulfate and S-propyl cysteine sulfoxides (SMCOs)) may cause severe direct damage to the erythrocyte and their membrane, leading to their destruction and causing haemolytic anaemia in the animal. This review presents the most frequent intoxication by plants causing anaemia in ruminants. Toxic compounds, clinical signs, diagnosis and possible treatments are also presented.

Genus Melilotus in the flora of Russia and adjacent countries

Species from the genus Melilotus Mill. belong to the plant genetic resources, which have value as forage, medicinal, and melliferous crops, and can be used for soil improvement, as a source of coumarins in the perfume industry, etc. The paper presents a taxonomic review of the genus Melilotus for the territory of Russia and neighboring countries, including synonymy and taxonomy, morphological, brief ecological and geographical characteristics of the species. By analyzing the morphological, ecological features and geography of distribution, the genus was taxonomically revised. In the considered territory, the genus numbers 13 species and two subgenera. A typical subgenus included three sections, two subsections, and three rows. A new subsection (Polonica) is described; new combinations in the Altissimae section, and two in the Dentatae and Wolgicae sections are proposed. The research was based on collections of the VIR herbarium (WIR), the V.L. Komarov Botanical Institute of RAS (LE), St. Petersburg State University (LECB), Moscow State University (MW), the N.V. Tsitsin Main Botanical Garden of RAS (MHA), etc., as well as on literary sources on the taxonomy of the genus Melilotus.

Comparative assessment of the amino acids content of some legumes species in Southern Ukraine

The data on the composition and amount of amino acids have been analyzed in the raw materials of five legume species. All of them grow in Southern Ukrainian flora (Securigera varia (L.) Lassen, Vicia cracca L., Lupinus luteus L., Melilotus officinalis (L.) Pall., Melilotus albus Medic.) and may be used as a source of amino acids, especially essential, whose resource has to be replenished from the outside. Aim. We have studied and compared the amino acid profile of some species of the Ukrainian South Legumes, and used the multidimensional statistical cluster analysis to construction of histograms based on the amino acids content and composition of such plants as: Securigera varia (L.) Lassen, Vicia cracca L., Lupinus luteus L., Melilotus officinalis (L.) Pall., Melilotus albus Medic. Materials and methods. The raw materials were harvested at the South of Ukraine and were investigated by gas-liquid chromatography. The amino acid analyzer has been used after hydrochloric acid hydrolysis at elevated temperature. Results. 19 amino acids have been identified, of which nine are essential or partially interchangeable. The non-polar amino acid proline is in the lead in terms of quantity among the essential amino acids. Its amount was 6932 mg/100 g and the ability to accumulate it was noted in Melilotus officinalis (2276 mg/100 g). The smallest proline amount was found in Lupinus luteus (388 mg/100 g). The sulfur-containing non-polar amino acid methionine is in the smallest amount in the selected plants (506 mg/100 g). Our attention was drawn to the absence of the polar amino acid glutamine among the non-essential amino acids in some plants. Securigera varia, Vicia cracca, and Melilotus officinalis did not contain glutamine. In this subgroup, the polar aspartic acid was found in the highest amount (6824 mg/100 g) with the highest content in Vicia cracca and the lowest – in Melilotus albus (2660 mg/100 g and 385 mg/100 g, respectively). Conclusions. The analysis of the presence and number of amino acids was the basis for our multidimensional statistical cluster analysis and histograms of the presentation of the amino acid profile of the studied plant members of the family Fabaceae L. In constructing the dendrogram, three clusters were identified, and representatives of one genus (Melilotus L.) were attributed to different clusters which is significant for further chemosystematic studies.

Analiza fitochemiczna gatunków Melilotus officinalis i Melilotus alba

Introduction. All over the world, natural medicine uses species of the genus Melilotus due to their anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, analgesic, spasmolytic, astringent, diuretic and anticoagulant effects. In the Polish Pharmacopoeia, only the yellow melilot herb (Meliloti herba) has a monograph. Aim. The research was aimed at a comparative analysis of the content of the sum of polyphenolic compounds, including the sum of flavonoids and phenolic acids, and antioxidant activity in water extracts of M. officinalis and M. alba herb and root. Material and methods. The research was carried out for two species of Melilotus officinalis and M. alba. The raw material was herb and melilot root, collected during flowering period from natural sites. In aqueous extracts from raw materials, the following methods were determined by colorimetric methods: the sum of polyphenolic compounds using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, the sum of phenolic acids using the Arnov reagent, the sum of flavonoids using the Christ-Müller method and the antioxidant activity using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-radical hydrazyl (DPPH). Results. Meliloti alba herb has a much higher content of polyphenols, including phenolic acids and flavonoids than M. officinalis. In the yellow sweet clover the sum of polyphenols in the samples ranged from 2.101 to 2.438%, while in the white sweet clover from 2.765 to 3.540%. The content of phenolic acids in the samples of yellow sweet clover herb was 0.617-0.766%, and in the samples of white sweet clover herb was 0.646-0.900%. The content of flavonoids in the samples of yellow sweet clover herb ranged from 0.748 to 0.975%, and in the case of white sweet clover herb it was at the level of 0.801-1.192%. The samples of the commercial yellow sweet clover herb had the lowest content of phenolic compounds; the sum of polyphenols was 1.579%, phenolic acids 0.361%, and flavonoids 0.441%. The determined content of total polyphenols in the roots of both melilot species was low and amounted to 0.450% in MORA1 and 0.362% in MARA2. Despite the lower content of polyphenolic compounds (2.438%), the yellow melilot showed higher antioxidant activity (IC50 = 4.35 mg/ml) compared to the white melilot herb (IC50 = 5.31) with a higher content of polyphenols (3.010%). Conclusions. A higher content of the sum of polyphenols as well as phenolic acids and flavonoids was found in the white melilot. In both the yellow and white sweet clover herb extract, significantly more polyphenolic compounds were determined compared to the content in their root extract.

Plants Named “Lotus” in Antiquity: Historiography, Biogeography, and Ethnobotany

In ancient times, several plants were named “lotus.” They assumed very important roles in the religions and art of many cultures, but historiography and descriptions of the various plants called “lotus” have always been poor. The aim of this work is to define what plant species correspond to the ancient name “lotus.” Through analysis of classical texts and other historiographical sources, three types of “lotus” have been identified: “arboreal lotus,” “herbaceous lotus,” and “aquatic lotus.” From the sources examined, several botanical species have been identified for each “lotus” category. In the “arboreal lotus” category there are two species of Ziziphus: Z. lotus and Z. spina-christi. The “herbaceous lotus” include several species in Fabaceae that have been called “lotus,” more specifically in the genera Melilotus, Lotus, Trifolium, and Trigonella. In the last category, “aquatic lotus,” are two species of Nymphaea L. (N. lotus and N. nouchali var. caerulea) and the sacred Indian lotus (Nelumbo nucifera). The attributions of these species have been validated by research on their biogeography and ethnobotanical uses.

Morphological and Physiological Characteristics of the Representatives of Melilotus Albus and Melilotus Officinalis, Growing on the Territory of Kalmykia

A comparative analysis of leaf blades of two kinds of clover (Melilotus albus, Melilotus officinalis) growing on the territory of Kalmykia has been carried out. Identified diagnostic features in the anatomical structure of the leaves of each species. The parameters of leaf tissue are set. The results of the work give an idea of the degree of plasticity of a characteristic of a leaf plate of two types of clover. Demonstrated features of plates of the same species can be equally, as well as specific for this species, and adaptive variability, due to which the plant has adapted to life in arid conditions. The water regime, indicators of transpiration and productivity of the clover were studied. Changes in physiological parameters were determined before the onset of the summer drought and at its height. The established morphological and physiological characteristics of the two species of clover allow them to be defined as plants that are well adapted to growing under the arid conditions of Kalmykia. The combination of the structural features of the clover with its physiological capabilities, valuable feeding properties and a positive effect on the soil, testifies to the effectiveness of the use of clover in the lean, saline areas of the region. The obtained data can be used in further systematic studies of the genus Melilotus, as well as in planning reclamation measures.

Genetic diversity, phylogenetic structure and development of core collections in Melilotus accessions from a Chinese gene bank

Melilotus is an important forage legume, with high values as feed and medicine, and widely used as green manure, honey plant, and wildlife habitat enhancer. The genetic diversity, structure and subdivision of this forage crop remain unclear, and plant genetic resources are the basis of biodiversity and ecosystem diversity and have attracted increasing attention. In this study, the whole collection of 573 accessions from the National Gene Bank of Forage Germplasm (NGBFG, China) and 48 accessions from the National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS, USA) in genus Melilotus were measured with respect to five seed characters: seed length, width, width-to-length ratio, circumference and 100-seed weight. Shannon’ genetic diversity index (H’) and phenotypic differentiation (Pst) were calculated to better describe the genetic diversity. The ITS and matK sequences were used to construct phylogenetic trees and study the genetic relationships within genus Melilotu. Based on seed morphology and molecular marker data, we preliminarily developed core collections and the sampling rates of M. albus and M. officinalis were determined to be 15% and 25%, respectively. The results obtained here provide preliminary sorting and supplemental information for the Melilotus collections in NGBFG, China, and establish a reference for further genetic breeding and other related projects.

Are Melilotus albus and M. officinalis conspecific?

The principal economic species of the genus Melilotus are white sweet-clover (Melilotus albus) and the extremely similar yellow sweet-clover (M. officinalis). Although they are widely recognized as distinct species, some influential references in North America reduce the former to a subspecific rank or even merely a conspecific synonym of the latter. Given their importance and the large numbers of germplasm collections, the doubt needs to be resolved. This review of relevant published evidence finds that in addition to the difference in floral colour, the traditional segregation of the two as distinct species is best supported by very strong reproductive barriers as well as divergent DNA sequences in three barcoding genes. Additional but weaker confirmation of separateness is provided by studies reporting differences in external morphology, biochemistry, seed protein profiles, karyotype and DNA microsatellites.

Cross-species transferability of EST-SSR markers developed from the transcriptome of Melilotus and their application to population genetics research

Melilotus is one of the most important legume forages, but the lack of molecular markers has limited the development and utilization of Melilotus germplasm resources. In the present study, 151 M clean reads were generated from various genotypes of Melilotus albus using Illumina sequencing. A total of 19,263 potential EST-SSRs were identified from 104,358 unigene sequences. Moreover, 18,182 primer pairs were successfully designed, and 550 primer pairs were selected using criteria of base repeat type, fragment length and annealing temperature. In addition, 550 primer pairs were screened by using PCR amplification products and used to assess polymorphisms in 15 M. albus accessions. A total of 114 primer pairs were detected as being highly polymorphic, and the average polymorphism information content (PIC) value was 0.79. Furthermore, those 114 polymorphic primer pairs were used to evaluate the transferability to 18 species of the genus Melilotus, and 70 EST-SSR markers were found to be transferable among the 18 Melilotus species. According to the UPGMA dendrogram and STRUCTURE analysis, the 18 Melilotus species were classified into three clusters. This study offers a valuable resource for the genetic diversity and molecular assisted breeding of germplasm resources in the genus Melilotus.

Analysis of genetic diversity and population structure in accessions of the genus Melilotus

Melilotus is one of the most important legume plants, in part due to its production of coumarin, but the genetic diversity among the 18 species remains unclear. In the present study, the analysis of genetic diversity of the Melilotus species was performed with simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. From the PCR amplification, we selected 18 out of 70 primers that were used in previous studies. Three hundred twenty-six sampled individuals were assayed to study the genetic diversity and polymorphisms based on the SSR markers. All analyzed markers were polymorphic, and 287 alleles were identified, with 15.94 alleles per locus detected. The polymorphism information content (PIC) values ranged from 0.71 to 0.93, with an average of 0.87, which indicates that the markers were highly informative. Based on the unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) cluster analysis, we found that the 18 species were divided into two clusters. M. italicus and M.​ speciosus from cluster A and M. indicus and M. segetalis from cluster B were closely related. Population structure analysis suggested that the optimum number of groups was three. From the analysis of molecular variance, 17.79% of the variance was due to species differences, 31.61% of the variance was due to differences among populations within species and the remaining 50.60% was due to differences within populations. The results of the present study showed that these SSR markers will benefit the Melilotus research community for genetics and breeding. Furthermore, this study also established the foundation for future breeding programs, genetic improvement and coumarin production in the Melilotus species.

Interspecific Phylogenic Relationships within Genus Melilotus Based on Nuclear and Chloroplast DNA.

Melilotus comprises 19 species, while the phylogenetic relationships between species remain unclear. In the present work, three chloroplast genes, rbcL, matK, trnL-F, and one nuclear region, ITS (internal transcribed spacer) belonging to 48 populations of 18 species of Melilotus were sequenced and phylogenetic trees were constructed to study their interspecific relationships. Based on the phylogenetic tree generated in this study using rbcL analysis, the Melilotus genus is clearly monophyletic in the legume family. Both Bayesian and maximum-parsimony approaches were used to analyze the data. The nrDNA ITS provided more informative characteristics (9.8%) than cpDNA (3.0%). Melilotus contains two closely related groups, clade I and clade II. M. spicatus, M. indicus and M. segetalis have a close relationship. M. infestus, M. siculus and M. sulcatus are closely related. The comparing between molecular phylogeny and flower color classification in Melilotus showed that the flower color is not much informative for phylogenetics of this genus.

Description of the male, new geographical record, and biological notes on the small resin beeHypanthidioides (Ctenanthidium) bifasciata(Urban, 1993) (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae)

We describe and figure the previously unknown male of Hypanthidioides (Ctenanthidium) bifasciata (Urban, 1993) based on specimens reared from a trap nest along with a female. This species, originally known only from the type specimen collected in Colonia, Uruguay, is also newly recorded from Buenos Aires, Argentina. We provide for the first time information on the nest structure and, based on the analysis of pollen grains from brood cells, record five host plant species belonging to the families Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, and Fabaceae. Most pollen grains belong to an undetermined species of the genus Melilotus L. (Fabaceae).

Triterpene and steroidal glycosides of the genus Melilotus and their genins. VI. Melilotoside A2 and adzukisaponin V from the roots of M. tauricus

Two triterpene glycosides of the oleanane series, melilotoside A2 and previously known adzukisaponin V, were isolated from the roots of Melilotus tauricus (L.) Pall. (Fabaceae). The structures of the glycosides were proved based on chemical transformations. Melilotoside A2 had the structure soyasapogenol B 3-O-β-D-glucouronopyranoside; adzukisaponin V, soyasapogenol B 3-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-2)-β-Dglucopyranosyl-(1-2)-β-D-glucuronopyranoside].

Triterpene and steroidal glycosides from the genus Melilotus and their genins.

Three new triterpene oleanane glycosides, melilotosides A 1 , B 1 , and C 1 , and non-glycosylated soyasapogenol B were isolated from Melilotus officinalis (L.) Pall. (Fabaceae) roots. The structures of the glycosides were proved using chemical transformations and spectral data. Melilotoside A 1 is soyasapogenol B 3-O-β-Dxylopyranoside; melilotoside B 1 , soyasapogenol B 3-O-[β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-2)-f-D-xylopyranoside]; melilotoside C 1 , soyasapogenol B 3-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-2)-β-D-galactopyranosyl(1-2)-β-Dxylopyranoside].

Diversity in the genus Melilotus for tolerance to salinity and waterlogging

Identifying forage species that are productive in saline environments is an important research priority in many areas of the world affected by salinity. The salt and waterlogging tolerances of 19 species of Melilotus were evaluated in a series of glasshouse experiments. Measurements taken on each species included: dry matter (DM) production, root growth and development, shoot ion (Na+, K+ and Cl−) concentrations, root porosity, and in vitro estimates of nutritive value. Research on several species was restricted because of their potential as weed risks. Of the remaining species, M. siculus (syn. M. messanensis), an annual species, showed high relative salt and waterlogging tolerances, good DM production under non-stressed and stressed (saline and hypoxic) conditions, a high level of root porosity under stagnant conditions, low tissue ion (Na+, Cl−) concentrations, and a reasonable dry matter digestibility content (range 66–69%) under highly saline conditions. M. sulcatus ssp. segetalis and M. indicus were also identified as species with good DM production and tolerance to salinity and waterlogging stresses. Further weed risk assessments and field trials on these species are required before they can be promoted for use as pasture forages on saline areas.

Bioactive phenolics and polar compounds from Melilotus messanensis1Part 8 in the series “Natural Products as Allelochemicals”; for Part 7 see Macı́as et al. [Macı́as, F. A., Simonet, A. M., Galindo, J. C. G., Pacheco, P. C. and Sánchez, J. A., Phytochemistry, 1998. 149, 709].1

Abstract The methanolic extract from sweetclover, Melilotus messanensis, afforded the new coumestan melimessanol A, the 3-arylcoumarin melimessanol B and the 2-arylbenzofuran melimessanol C, which where identified on the basis of spectroscopic methods. The known isoflavones formononetin and cyclosin; the isoflavanone vestitone; the flavanone liquiritigenin; the pterocarpans (3R,4R)-medicarpin, 3-hydroxymedicarpin and melilotocarpane B; the coumestans coumestrol, 4′-O-methylcoumestrol and 7-hydroxy-4′,5′-dimethoxycoumestan; the 3-arylcoumarin 3-(4′-methoxy-2′-hydroxyphenyl)-7-hydroxycoumarin; the lignan pinoresinol; 3-hydroxycoumarin and the simple phenolics p-coumaric acid, vanillic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, a diterpene, two loliolides, a cyclitol and two saponins have been also isolated and spectroscopically identified. Cyclosin, vestitone, 4′-O-methylcoumestrol, 7-hydroxy-4′,5′-dimethoxycoumestan, 3-(4′-methoxy-2′-hydroxyphenyl)-7-hydroxycoumarin and 3-hydroxycoumarin are first reported in the genus Melilotus. The effects of a series of aqueous solutions from 10−4–10−9 M of twelve phenolics, two loliolides, a diterpene and a cyclitol on germination and growth of the dicotyledons Lactuca sativa cvs. Roman and Nigra and Lycopersicum esculentum and the monocotyledons Allium cepa and Hordeum vulgare, have been studied. The isoflavones formononetin and cyclosin and the pterocarpan medicarpin have been found to inhibit principally A. cepa germination.

Effect of aluminium on yield and plant chemical concentrations of some temperate legumes

The aluminium (Al) tolerance of 34 temperate legume species (143 genotypes, including 57 from Trifolium repens) was determined in 60 experiments over a 3 year period in a low ionic strength (2.7 × 10-3M) solution culture. For each genotype, the relationship between solution Al3+ activity (μM) and relative yield was determined and the Al3+ activity associated with a 50% reduction in yield (AlRY50) calculated. In addition, plant chemical concentrations were determined in at least one genotype from most species. For white clover, AlRY50 over all genotypes had an approximately normal distribution with mean of 1.31 μM for the tops and 1.51 μM for the roots, and a standard deviation of about 0.4. This suggested that Al tolerance had a polygenic inheritance. For the other species tested, AlRY50 ranged from 0.15 to 4.53 μM in the tops and from 0.21 to 4.89 μM in the roots. In the tops and roots, 37% and 26% respectively of the genotypes had an AlRY50 less than 1 μM, including all species tested in the genera Melilotus and Medicago. Only 8% or 23% of the genotypes, based on the tops and roots respectively, had an AlRY50 greater than 2, including all genotypes in the species Lotus pedunculatus. Except for Lotus, there were no consistent differences between genera in plant chemical concentrations. In Lotus, concentrations of Ca, Zn, Mn and Cu in the tops and of all elements except B in the roots were lower than that of the other species. The AlRY50 of the species was not related to plant chemical concentrations in the absence of Al. Depending on the plant element, increasing solution Al concentrations had no significant effect on plant chemical concentrations for 56–94% of the species. When a significant effect did occur, increasing Al in solution generally decreased S and K concentrations and increased Mn, Zn, Cu Fe, B and Al concentrations in the tops and roots and decreased Ca concentrations in the tops. Plant P concentrations decreased in the tops but increased in the roots. Increasing Al in solution increase plant Al at the average rate of 44 μg g-1 μM-1 (range 20–87) in the tops and 333 μg μM-1 (range 162–616) in the roots.

The chemotaxonomic significance of laricytrin and medicagenic acid in the tribe Trigonelleae

Flavonoids from fresh flowers of 35 species and medicagenic acid from leaf tissue of 44 species of the tribe Trigonelleae Schulz (Fabaceae) were examined using thin-layer chromatography. Moreover, medicagenic acid glycosides in the leaf tissue were also analyzed by the hemolytic test. Compounds tentatively identified as kaempferol, quercetin, myricetin, laricytrin, and medicagenic acid were present in hydrolysates of all species of the genus Medicago, including five species of debated taxonomic position, M. radiata, M. hybrida, M. cretacea, M. arborea, and M. lupulina. Laricytrin and medicagenic acid, while rarely occurring in the plant kingdom, may be regarded as chemical markers that distinguish the genus Medicago in Trigonelleae and may further support the placement of the five questionable species into Medicago. Laricytrin and medicagenic acid were also found in hydrolysates of three species of the section Buceras of the genus Trigonella (T. monantha, T. monspeliaca, and T. polyceratia) and were not found in any of the remaining tested species of Trigonella or in the genus Melilotus. This chemical affinity of the three Trigonella species to Medicago gives further support to the placement of these species in genus Medicago.

Soyasapogenols B and E fromMelilotus officinalis

From the aerial parts ofMelilotus officinalis (Leguminosae) soyasapogenols B, mp 259–260°, and E, mp 246–247°, were isolated along with coumarin and kaempferol. This is the first report of the isolation of soyasapogenols from the genus Melilotus.