Chemical constituents from Cortex Moutan and their chemotaxonomic significance

A phytochemical study of Cortex Moutan (the dried root bark of Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews) led to the isolation of 24 compounds, including eleven mono-phenols (1–11), seven terpenoids (12–18), three flavonoids (19–21), two sterols (22 and 23) and one coumarin (24). The structures of these isolated compounds were identified using NMR spectroscopy (1H and 13C) by comparison with previously reported data. To the best of our knowledge, compounds 5, 11, 15, 16, 22, and 24 were reported from this plant for the first time. The chemotaxonomic significance of the isolates was also discussed.