Ecdysteroids from vitex glabrata

Abstract

Vitex glabrata R. Br. (Verbenaceae) is a tree locally known as “Kai Nao” (1). The bark and root have reportedly been used as astringents. The bark has also been claimed to be an anthelmintic and a remedy for gastro-intestinal disorders (2,3). We report here the isolation and identification of two ecdysteroids: 20-hydroxyecdysone (4) and 1 la,20-dihydroxyecdysone (turkesterone) (5) from the bark of V. glabrata. Continuous liquid-liquid extraction provides a convenient and effective isolation of 20-hydroxyecdysone in high yield. The occurrences of 20-hydroxyecdysone and related ecdysteroids in Vitex megapotamica have been reported (6–8). To our knowledge, this is the first report of 11α,20-dihydroxyecdysone in Verbenaceae (9). © 1986, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.