Chemotaxonomy of the Oleaceae: iridoids as taxonomic markers

Mass spectrometry is essential for the structure determination of naturally occurring glycosides. Molecular weight and sugar sequence information can be obtained. Development of “soft” ionization techniques has allowed a direct mass spectrometric investigation of underivatized glycosides. Numerous different and complementary methods of ionization have been used for their study. For a given compound, the choice of a particular technique is crucial in order to obtain the structural information needed. A brief survey of these ionization techniques is given, together with examples of their use in major classes of plant glycosides.

Mass spectrometry of underivatized naturally occurring glycosides

Five secoiridoid glucosides from Fraxinus formosana

The iridoid and secoiridoid derivatives of Oleaceae have been grouped regarding structural similarities. The biosynthetic routes leading to these compounds and their most relevant biological activities, described up to now, have also been reviewed.

Han-Ying Chen

Papers

Jasmultiside, a new secoiridoid glucoside from Jasminum multiflorum