[Studies on the chemical constituents of the root of Desmos cochinchinensis Lour].

Desmos cochinchinensis as a folk medicine is used for treatment of malaria in China. Pharmacological studies showed that the petroleum ether extract of the root of the plant exhibited anti-malarial activity. Three flavonoids were isolated from this extract, of which two were identified as lawinal and isounonal. Compound III is a new flavanol. On the basis of spectroscopic analyses (UV, IR, MS, 1HNMR, 13CNMR and X-RD) the structure was established as 4,7-dihydroxyl-5-methoxyl-6-methyl-8-formyl-flavan. I and II were found from this plant for the first time.