Chemotaxonomy of the tribe Antidesmeae (Euphorbiaceae): antidesmone and related compounds

Selected species of the tribe Antidesmeae (Euphorbiaceae, subfamily Phyllanthoideae) have been screened for antidesmone occurrence and its content by quantitative HPLC (UV) and qualitative LC-MS/MS analysis. The LC-MS analysis allowing the additional detection of 17,18-bis-nor-antidestrione, 18-nor-antidesnione, 8-dihydroantidesmone and 8-deoxoantidestrione was carried Out ill the selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode. Leaf material from herbarium Specimens of 13 Antides,a spp., H yeronima alchorneoides and Thecacoris stenopetala fall subtribe Antidesminae), as well as Maesohotrya berteri, Aporosa octandra (both Scepinae) and Uapaca robynsii (Uapacinae) were analysed. Additionally, freshly collected samples of different plant parts of two Antidesma spp. were investigated to ensure the significance of the results on herbarium specimens and to compare the antidesmone content in bark, root and leaves. Antidesmone could be unambiguously identified in 12 of 13 Antidesma spp., as well as in the two other investigated genera of subtribe Antidesminae, in levels of up to 65 mg/kg plant dry weight. Antidesmone was not found ill specimens from other subtribes. Antidesmone-derived compounds occur in much lower concentrations than antidesirione. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.