Open Collections

A flavonoid study of the lauraceae

University of British Columbia

A total of 80 compounds, consisting mainly o f flavonols, were observed in a leaf chemistry survey of 120 species and 35 genera of Lauraceae. A common flavonoid pattern of quercetin-3-(9-glucoside, quercetin-3-O-xyloside, quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside, kaempferol-3-<9-glucoside and kaempferol-3-O-rhamnoside was widely exhibited in the family. Quercetin and kaempferol di- and triglycosides were the next most common compounds followed by C-glycosylflavones, flavones, flavanones, methylated flavonols and chalcones. Flavonoids, like the morphological characters of the Lauraceae, showed large variation within genera; however, the restricted distribution of certain compounds clarified some relationships within controversial genera. The widespread occurrence of C-glycosylflavones in the expanded tribe Perseeae sensu van der Werff and Richter (1996) supports their new classification of this tribe. The lack of C-glycosylflavones in Sassafras, Umbellularia and Actinodaphne supports Rohwer's (1993b) and van der Werff and Richter's (1996) treatment of these genera in their tribe Laureae. C-Glycosylflavones also supports the transfer of the American species of Cinnamomum back to Phoebe. Lastly, the unique occurrence of chrysin in Hypodaphnis supports the placement of this genus in its own tribe as indicated by Kostermans (1957). In addition, flavonoid data have also revealed the classic eastern Asia-eastern North America disjunct distribution in several species of Persea, Lindera and Sassafras.

Thesis/Dissertation

application/pdf

2009-04-30

For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/7786

Botany

University of British Columbia

UBCV

DSpace