Reseda luteola
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID643fffd196ba0729894347 |
| Scientific name | Reseda luteola |
| Authority | L. |
| First published in | Sp. Pl. : 448 (1753) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
Among European herbals, the whole herb of Reseda luteola—particularly the aerial parts and occasionally the roots—was employed in decoctions to encourage diuresis and to support “dropsy” (edema), a bitter tonic used to stimulate appetite, and as a gentle lithontriptic to assist the passage of gravel from the urinary tract. The flowers have long served as an edible garnish and the whole plant as a culinary green or potherb; its familiar floral aroma and mildly sweet bitterness flavor salads and stews. In Bohemia, Brot and Heinrich (1903) recorded a decoction of the herb as a diuretic and lithontriptic; in Italy, Penzig (1924) listed decoction of the flowers and leaves for promoting urine and treating kidney stones; in the Austro‑Hungarian sphere, Madaus (1938) likewise noted a decoction for dropsy and as a bitter tonic for appetite. These same herbal sources also noted occasional poultices of the bruised herb to soothe bruises and swellings.
For a gentle medicinal decoction, simmer about 20–25 grams of air‑dried aerial parts in one liter of water for 10–12 minutes, then strain and take one cup twice a day, for no more than 10 consecutive days unless a practitioner advises otherwise. Because its safety in pregnancy is not established, avoid use during pregnancy and lactation. In sensitive individuals, the bitter constituents can trigger migraine or indigestion; start with a modest dose and discontinue if nausea or headache develops. If taking diuretics or drugs with narrow therapeutic windows such as lithium or digoxin, consult a health professional before use.
Well‑established phytochemicals in Reseda luteola include the flavonoids luteolin and apigenin as well as their glycosides; caffeic, p‑coumaric and chlorogenic phenolic acids; and resedacoumarins such as resedacoumarin A and B. These bitters and phenolics plausibly account for the tonic, diuretic and lithontriptic actions recorded in traditional practice.
Modern relevance: although weld is now primarily cultivated as a yellow dye (adding “weld yellow” to mordanted fibers), classic European herbal practice persists in low‑dose decoctions for short periods as a bitter diuretic, and several historic herbal compendia document these uses.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
Dried aerial parts, including stems and leaves, of Reseda luteola (dyer’s weld, Reseda luteola L.) are processed as a commercial natural yellow dye. The product is traded as “weld,” “yellow weed,” or “reseda dye,” typically as chopped herbage or powdered plant material, often supplied in standardized packaging for industrial dyeing.
Colorants and dyeing:
Reseda luteola yields luteolin and apigenin, providing clear, fast yellows on protein fibers (wool, silk) and leather. Mordanting is usually required to achieve adequate washfastness and lightfastness; aluminum salts give bright yellows; iron salts shift the hue toward olive green. Historically it was a principal European yellow for textiles and has been used for leather coloration. Typical fiber pre-treatments follow standard dyeing industry protocols for natural dye baths.
Industrial and craft applications:
Weld is used in craft and small-batch natural-dye studios to produce yellow and compound hues. In textile dyeing it may be specified in historical or heritage reproduction contexts. Industrial uses remain niche, with the product primarily supplied to craft dyers and specialized textile finishers.
Properties relevant to use:
The plant’s principal flavonoid luteolin imparts bright, clear yellows, with good lightfastness on protein fibers when properly mordanted. Apigenin contributes additional chromophores and can modulate color under different mordants and pH conditions. Commercial dye lots are characterized by spectrophotometric hue measurements, with color strength defined at defined wavelengths and plant material normalized to a specified moisture content for batch consistency.
Sustainability and sourcing:
Weld is cultivated and wild-collected across Europe and introduced ranges. Wildcrafting practices are controlled by local harvesting regulations; cultivated supplies are grown as an annual field crop. Ecological considerations include habitat impact from overharvesting and the use of agricultural inputs if cultivated.
Standards and regulation:
Use of weld-derived colorants in textiles is covered by general safety and chemical compliance frameworks (e.g., EU REACH for chemical substances and EU Ecolabel/Oeko-Tex Standard 100 for product safety). No specific monograph exists within ISO/ASTM/EN for weld dye material; however, dye characterization and performance assessment typically follow industry spectrophotometric and wash/lightfastness test methods for natural dyes.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Luteola tinctoria | Webb & Berthel. | Hist. Nat. Iles Canaries 3(2; 1): 106 (1837) |
| Luteola resedoides | Fuss | Fl. Transsilv. : 86 (1866) |
| Reseda virescens | Hornem. | Hort. Bot. Hafn. 2: 501 (1815) |
| Reseda dimerocarpa | Rouy & Foucaud | Fl. France 1: 251 (1895) |
| Reseda gussonei | Boiss. & Reut. | Diagn. Pl. Orient. , ser. 2, 1: 49 (1854) |
| Reseda crispata | Link | Enum. Hort. Berol. Alt. 2: 8 (1822) |
| Reseda pseudovirens | Friv. | Flora 20(1): 232. 1837 |
| Reseda luteola subsp. dimerocarpa | (Müll.Arg.) Abdallah & de Wit | Meded. Landbouwhoogeschool 78(14): 262 (1978) |
| Reseda luteola subsp. gussonei | (Boiss. & Reut.) Franco | Nova Fl. Portugal 1: 552 (1971) |
| Arkopoda luteola | Raf. | Fl. Tellur. 3: 73 (1837) |
| Reseda tinctoria | Salisb. | Prodr. Stirp. Chap. Allerton : 345 (1796) |
| Reseda salicifolia | Gray | Nat. Arr. Brit. Pl. 2: 666 (1821 publ. 1822) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | weld |
| English | yellow weed |
| English | woold |
| English | dyer's weed |
| English | dyer's rocket |
| Spanish | cetro de ceres |
| Spanish | gauda |
| Spanish | gualda |
| Arabic | بليحاء مصفرة |
| Arabic | وييه |
| Arabic | ديية |
| Arabic | بليجة |
| Arabic | خزامي |
| Arabic | بقم |
| Belarusian | Рэзеда жоўценькая |
| Catalan | galda |
| Catalan | gavarró |
| Czech | rýt barvířský |
| Welsh | melengu |
| Danish | farve-vau |
| Danish | farve-reseda |
| German | färber-resede |
| German | echter wau |
| German | färber wau |
| German | färberresede |
| German | färberwau |
| German | gelbkraut |
| German | färber-wau |
| Estonian | värvireseeda |
| Basque | horika-belar |
| Persian | ورث زردنما |
| Finnish | värireseda |
| French | gaude |
| French | réséda des teinturiers |
| Irish | buí mór |
| Hebrew | רכפת הצבעים |
| Upper Sorbian | barbjerski róžat |
| Upper Sorbian | Žołćinka |
| Kabyle | tallemt izimer |
| Cornish | liwles |
| Norwegian Bokmål | fargereseda |
| Dutch | wouw |
| Polish | rezeda żółtawa |
| Portuguese | lírio-dos-tintureiros |
| Portuguese | gauda |
| Portuguese | gonda |
| Russian | Резеда желтоватая |
| Russian | Вау |
| Russian | Резеда красильная |
| Russian | Резеда жёлтенькая |
| Slovak | rezeda farbiarska |
| Swedish | färgreseda |
| Swedish | vau |
| Ukrainian | Резеда красильна |
| Chinese | 黄木犀草 |
Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Reseda luteola subsp. biaui | (Pit.) Maire | Bull. Soc. Hist. Nat. Afrique N. 19: 33. 1928 (1928) |
| Reseda luteola subsp. luteola | Unknown |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!| Sow seeds at 20°C, expecting germination within 3 months without further temperature treatment. |
| Requires Light or Surface Sowing: These seeds need light to germinate and should not be covered with soil or only very lightly. They are often very small and sown directly on the surface of the growing medium. |
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
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Africa click to expand
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Macaronesia
- Azores
- Canary Islands
- Madeira
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Northern Africa
- Algeria
- Egypt
- Libya
- Morocco
- Tunisia
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Macaronesia
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Asia-temperate click to expand
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Caucasus
- North Caucasus
- Transcaucasus
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Middle Asia
- Kazakhstan
- Kirgizstan
- Tadzhikistan
- Turkmenistan
- Uzbekistan
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Western Asia
- Afghanistan
- Cyprus
- East Aegean Islands
- Iran
- Iraq
- Lebanon-Syria
- Palestine
- Turkey
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Caucasus
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Asia-tropical click to expand
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Indian Subcontinent
- India
- Pakistan
- West Himalaya
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Indian Subcontinent
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Australasia click to expand
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Australia
- New South Wales
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Tasmania
- Victoria
- Western Australia
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Australia
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Europe click to expand
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Eastern Europe
- Baltic States
- Krym
- Ukraine
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Middle Europe
- Austria
- Belgium
- Czechoslovakia
- Germany
- Hungary
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Switzerland
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Northern Europe
- Denmark
- Great Britain
- Ireland
- Norway
- Sweden
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Southeastern Europe
- Albania
- Bulgaria
- Greece
- Italy
- Kriti
- Romania
- Sicilia
- Turkey-in-Europe
- Yugoslavia
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Southwestern Europe
- Baleares
- Corse
- France
- Portugal
- Sardegna
- Spain
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Eastern Europe
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Northern America click to expand
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Eastern Canada
- Nova Scotia
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Mexico
- Mexico Central
- Mexico Southwest
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North-central U.S.A.
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Missouri
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Northeastern U.S.A.
- Connecticut
- Indiana
- Massachusetts
- New Jersey
- New York
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
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Northwestern U.S.A.
- Colorado
- Oregon
- Washington
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South-central U.S.A.
- Texas
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Southeastern U.S.A.
- Delaware
- Maryland
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Southwestern U.S.A.
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Western Canada
- British Columbia
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Eastern Canada
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Southern America click to expand
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Southern South America
- Argentina Northeast
- Argentina South
- Chile Central
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Southern South America
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000462704 |
| UNII | 3PUF1M640Y |
| Canadensys | 8585 |
| USDA Plants | RELU2 |
| Tropicos | 27300004 |
| INPN | 117459 |
| Flora of Italy | 1691 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:715535-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-2526079 |
| PFAF | Reseda luteola |
| Open Tree Of Life | 359604 |
| Observations.org | 7307 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 415813 |
| NBN Atlas | NBNSYS0000002919 |
| Nature Serve | 2.148081 |
| IPNI | 715535-1 |
| iNaturalist | 78839 |
| GBIF | 3040251 |
| Freebase | /m/0bbwcjh |
| EPPO | RESLT |
| EOL | 487606 |
| Elurikkus | 6775 |
| Calflora (Californian flora) | 7068 |
| USDA GRIN | 30927 |
| Wikipedia | Reseda_luteola |
| CMAUP | NPO23778 |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
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Phytochemical Profile Top
Add a new one!
Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives | |||||
| (5S)-5-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidine-2-thione | 26195519 | Click to see | 179.24 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00565185 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00566368 |
| Barbarin | 10397377 | Click to see | 179.24 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00565185 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00565524 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00566368 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00566369 |
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Salicylic acid and derivatives / Salicylic acids | |||||
| (S)-3-Carboxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycine | 5311460 | Click to see | 211.17 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)98484-X |
| 5-[Amino(carboxy)methyl]-2-hydroxybenzoic acid | 4014619 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C(C(=O)O)N)C(=O)O)O | 211.17 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)98484-X |
| > Benzenoids / Naphthalenes | |||||
| 2-Anilino-4-phenylimino-naphthalen-1-one | 344133 | Click to see | 324.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00565524 |
| N-Phenyl-2-naphthylamine | 8679 | Click to see C1=CC=C(C=C1)NC2=CC3=CC=CC=C3C=C2 | 219.28 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00565185 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00565524 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Pregnane steroids / Gluco/mineralocorticoids, progestogins and derivatives | |||||
| Progesterone | 5994 | Click to see | 314.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00565524 |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Alpha amino acids | |||||
| 2-Amino-4-hydroxypimelic acid | 54514417 | Click to see | 191.18 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)98484-X |
| 2-Amino-5-hydroxyheptanedioic acid | 162872338 | Click to see C(CC(C(=O)O)N)C(CC(=O)O)O | 191.18 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)98484-X |
| 4-Amino-2-hydroxy-2-methylpentanedioic acid | 4961357 | Click to see | 177.16 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)98484-X |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Alpha amino acids / L-alpha-amino acids | |||||
| (2S,4R)-2-amino-4-hydroxyheptanedioic acid | 162992985 | Click to see | 191.18 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)98484-X |
| (2s,4r)-4-Hydroxy-4-methyl-glutamic acid | 11073946 | Click to see | 177.16 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)98484-X |
| (2S,4S)-4-Amino-2-hydroxy-2-methylpentanedioic acid | 440894 | Click to see | 177.16 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)98484-X |
| (2S,5S)-2-amino-5-hydroxyheptanedioic acid | 162872339 | Click to see | 191.18 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)98484-X |
| 3-[(S)-amino(carboxy)methyl]benzoic acid | 92446485 | Click to see | 195.17 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)98484-X |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Phenylalanine and derivatives | |||||
| (S)-3-(2-Amino-2-carboxyethyl)benzoic acid | 22854522 | Click to see | 209.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)98484-X |
| 3-(3-Carboxyphenyl)alanine | 265274 | Click to see | 209.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)98484-X |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Tyrosine and derivatives | |||||
| 2-Amino-3-(3-carboxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)propanoic acid | 583884 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1CC(C(=O)O)N)C(=O)O)O | 225.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)98484-X |
| 3-(3-Carboxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)alanine | 199028 | Click to see | 225.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)98484-X |
| > Organic nitrogen compounds / Organonitrogen compounds / Amines / Aralkylamines | |||||
| (R)-2-Amino-1-phenylethanol | 6951165 | Click to see C1=CC=C(C=C1)C(CN)O | 137.18 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00565185 |
| 2-Amino-1-phenylethanol | 1000 | Click to see C1=CC=C(C=C1)C(CN)O | 137.18 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00565185 |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Azolidines / Oxazolidines / Oxazolidinones | |||||
| (5S)-5-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidin-2-one | 10855806 | Click to see | 163.17 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00566368 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00565185 |
| 5-Phenyl-1,3-oxazolidin-2-one | 202193 | Click to see | 163.17 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00565185 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00565524 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00566368 |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Oxolanes | |||||
| (3E,4S)-3-decylidene-4-hydroxy-5-methylideneoxolan-2-one | 11470765 | Click to see | 252.35 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Cinnamic acid amides | |||||
| Cinnamamide | 5273472 | Click to see C1=CC=C(C=C1)C=CC(=O)N | 147.17 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00565524 |
| Cinnamic Acid Amide | 12135 | Click to see C1=CC=C(C=C1)C=CC(=O)N | 147.17 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00565524 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Coumarin glycosides | |||||
| 6,7-dimethoxy-8-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxychromen-2-one | 21633144 | Click to see COC1=C(C(=C2C(=C1)C=CC(=O)O2)OC3C(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)O)OC | 384.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Hydroxycoumarins | |||||
| Fraxidin | 3083616 | Click to see COC1=C(C(=C2C(=C1)C=CC(=O)O2)O)OC | 222.19 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Hydroxycoumarins / 7-hydroxycoumarins | |||||
| Scopoletin | 5280460 | Click to see | 192.17 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Flavanones | |||||
| 4-(5,7-Dihydroxy-4-oxo-2-phenyl-2,3-dihydrochromen-6-yl)-1,3-diazepan-2-one | 21592391 | Click to see | 368.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)98484-X |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones | |||||
| 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-5-hydroxy-4-oxo-4H-chromen-7-olate luteolin-7-olate(1-) | 25201972 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O)[O-] | 285.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Luteolin | 5280445 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O)O | 286.24 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01374036 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones / Flavonols | |||||
| Quercetin | 5280343 | Click to see | 302.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides | |||||
| Afzelin | 5316673 | Click to see | 432.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Quercitrin | 5280459 | Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2=C(OC3=CC(=CC(=C3C2=O)O)O)C4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)O)O)O)O | 448.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-7-O-glycosides | |||||
| Boldoside | 72188972 | Click to see | 624.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01374036 |
| kaempferol 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-7-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside | 21606527 | Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2=CC(=C3C(=C2)OC(=C(C3=O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)C5=CC=C(C=C5)O)O)O)O)O | 594.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01374036 |
| Kaempferol-3-O-glucoside-7-O-rhamnoside | 14035324 | Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2=CC(=C3C(=C2)OC(=C(C3=O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)C5=CC=C(C=C5)O)O)O)O)O | 594.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01374036 |
| Luteolin 7-galactoside | 5291488 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)O)O | 448.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01374036 |
| Luteolin 7-O-glucoside | 5280637 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)O)O | 448.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01374036 |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |