Phenylpropanoids and flavones from Desmos pedunculosus (Annonaceae) from Vietnam

The genus Desmos consists of several species of trees and shrubs, mainly found in southeastern Asia. Many of these species have had few or no reports of their chemistry. Phytochemical investigation of the tree Desmos pedonculosus (A. DC.) Bân (Annonaceae) from Vietnam led to the isolation and characterization of two flavones and several benzoate esters derived from cinnamyl alcohol. Three of the isolated benzoate esters have not been reported previously from nature. A comparison of the chemistry of different plant parts will be presented, as well as a consideration of the identified components relative to other members of genus Desmos. This work illustrates the potential for the discovery of new natural products from the NPDI plant extract collection, in particular the pre-fractionated plant extract set currently being developing.