Chemical Constituents of Desmodium caudatum

Objective: To study the chemical constituents of Desmodium caudatum. Methods: Silica column chromatography,Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography and recrystallization were used to separate and purify the chemical composition of Desmodium caudatum. Their chemical structures were identified by infrared spectrum( IR),mass spectrum( MS),nuclear magnetic resonance( NMR) and other physicochemical methods. Results: Twelve compounds were isolated and identified as lacceroic acid( 1),gheddic acid( 2),stigmasterol( 3),betulin( 4),citrusinol( 5),yukovanol( 6),kaempferol( 7),protocatechuic acid( 8),sophocarpine( 9),matrine( 10),N,Ndimethyltryptamine( 11) and 5-hydroxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine( 12). Conclusion: Compounds 1,2,4 and 8 ~ 12 are isolated from this plant for the first time.