Two glucosylated abscisic acid derivates from avocado seeds (Persea americana Mill. Lauraceae cv. Hass)

Phytochemical investigation of avocado seed material (Persea americana Mill., Lauraceae) resulted in the isolation of two glucosylated abscisic acid derivates. One of these was not known as a natural product and can be regarded as a potential ‘missing link' in abscisic acid metabolism in plants. After fractionation by high-speed countercurrent chromatography, and multiple steps of column chromatography, structures were elucidated by 1D-, 2D-NMR, electrospray-MS to be the novel β-d-glucoside of (1′S,6′R)-8′-hydroxyabscisic acid, and (1′R,3′R,5′R,8′S)-epi-dihydrophaseic acid β-d-glucoside. Absolute configuration was determined by circulardichroism, optical rotation, and by NOE experiments.