Tropaeolum majus
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID643fff48bdfed133604157 |
| Scientific name | Tropaeolum majus |
| Authority | L. |
| First published in | Sp. Pl. : errata, last page (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 the Mapuche of southern Chile, infusions of Tropaeolum majus leaves are taken to ease coughs and bronchial complaints (Bennett et al., 2021). In early European herbal medicine recorded by Grieve (1931, A Modern Herbal), a mild leaf tea was used as an expectorant for colds, and an infusion of fresh leaves also served as a wound wash. Across the Andes in Peru and Colombia, healers made poultices of fresh leaf or whole-plant mass to apply topically to bruises and minor wounds (Gonzalez et al., 2010). Similar topical and respiratory uses appear in other montane regions of South America, where leaves are crushed for poultices and infused as teas for cough (Cuevas, 2022).
For a practical leaf infusion, use 1–2 grams (about a tablespoon) of fresh, clean Tropaeolum majus leaves per cup (about 240 ml) of just‑boiled water. Cover and steep 5–10 minutes, then strain. Do not exceed 1–2 cups per day and stop use if stomach upset occurs. Avoid during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. People on anticoagulant medication or preparing for surgery should use caution because strong isothiocyanates may affect platelet function; this preparation is for short‑term support of mild cough or sore throat and not a substitute for medical care (Grieve, 1931; Bennett et al., 2021).
The activity is plausibly linked to well‑known constituents of this species: the glucosinolate glucotropaeolin and its hydrolysis product benzyl isothiocyanate, which impart both pungency and antimicrobial/expectorant effects (Kern & Marshall, 1975; Jäger et al., 2007). Leaves also contain quercetin and kaempferol glycosides and appreciable ascorbic acid, supporting antioxidant and anti‑inflammatory actions (Fratianni et al., 2013).
Modern relevance and practice: clinical studies continue to investigate Tropaeolum’s antimicrobial and immunomodulatory effects, while commercial seed and leaf preparations remain available (Jäger et al., 2007).
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
Flower petals and young leaves are used fresh as salad ingredients, garnishes, and flavoring in sandwiches and herb butters. Immature seeds are pickled as a caper-like condiment. Commercial horticultural varieties are cultivated to provide cut flowers and edible petals for food service. The plant is categorized by Flavor & Extract Manufacturers Association as “Generally Recognized as Safe” for use as a natural flavoring substance.
Properties relevant to use:
Leaves and flowers are succulent and mucilaginous, imparting a sharp, peppery flavor characteristic of mustard oils derived from glucosinolates; however, no specific profile is reported. Seed oil yield is low and not commercially exploited. The culinary attributes relate to volatile mustard oils and cellular moisture, enabling fresh applications and pickled products.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Nasturtium indicum | Garsault | Fig. Pl. Med. 3: t. 404. 1764, nom. inval., opus utique oppressum; Descr. Pl. Anim. 242. 1767; Thell. in Bull. Herb. Boiss. Ser. II. viii. 902. |
| Tropaeolum chaixianum | É.Morren | Belgique Hort. 6: 2 (1856) |
| Tropaeolum naudinii | É.Morren | Belgique Hort. 6: 2 (1856) |
| Tropaeolum atrosanguineum | Gordon | Gard. Chron. 1845: 185 (1845) |
| Trophaeum pinnatum | (Andrews) Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 1: 97 (1891) |
| Trophaeum zanderi | Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 1: 97 (1891) |
| Tropaeolum repandifolium | Stokes | Bot. Mat. Med. 2: 346 (1812) |
| Tropaeolum scheuerianum | É.Morren | Belgique Hort. 6: 1 (1856) |
| Trophaeum chaixianum | Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 1: 97 (1891) |
| Trophaeum atrosanguineum | Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 1: 97 (1891) |
| Tropaeolum zanderi | A.Dietr. | Allg. Gartenzeitung 22: 370 (1854) |
| Trophaeum naudinii | Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 1: 97 (1891) |
| Trophaeum scheunerianum | Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 1: 97 (1891) |
| Cardamindum majus | Moench | Suppl. Meth. (Moench) 20. 1802 [2 May 1802] |
| Trophaeum majus | Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 1: 97 (1891) |
| Tropaeolum quinquelobum | Bergius | Kongl. Vetensk. Acad. Handl. 27: 32 (1765) |
| Tropaeolum pinnatum | Andrews | Bot. Repos. 8: t. 535 (1808) |
| Tropaeolum elatum | Salisb. | Prodr. Stirp. Chap. Allerton 275. 1796 [Nov-Dec 1796] |
| Tropaeolum hybridum | L. | Mant. Pl. 64. 1767 [15-31 Oct 1767] |
| Tropaeolum schillingii | [B.Verlot,] | in Vilm. Fl. Pleine Terre (ed. 2) 189. 1866 |
| Tropaeolum majus var. coccineum | Alef. | |
| Tropaeolum majus var. brunneum | Alef. | |
| Tropaeolum majus var. sordidum | Alef. | |
| Tropaeolum majus var. luteum | Alef. | |
| Tropaeolum majus var. haageanum | Alef. | |
| Tropaeolum majus var. coffeinum | Alef. | |
| Tropaeolum majus var. scheuermannii | Alef. | |
| Tropaeolum majus var. carneum | Alef. | |
| Tropaeolum majus var. regelianum | Alef. | |
| Tropaeolum majus var. schillingii | Alef. | |
| Tropaeolum majus var. plenum | Alef. | |
| Tropaeolum majus unranked flore-purpurea | Van Houtte | |
| Tropaeolum hortense | Sparre | |
| Tropaeolum compactum | H.Boyce ex J.Dix |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | trophaeum majus (l.) kuntze |
| English | nasturtium indicum garsault |
| English | cardamindum majus moench |
| English | monks cress |
| English | indian cress |
| English | garden nasturtium |
| English | nasturtium |
| Spanish | pelón |
| Spanish | capuchina |
| Spanish | llagas de cristo |
| Spanish | espuela de galán |
| Spanish | flor de la sangre |
| Spanish | mastuerzo de indias |
| Spanish | taco de reina |
| Spanish | marañuela |
| Afrikaans | kappertjie |
| Arabic | كبوسين كبير |
| Arabic | ابو خنجر |
| Arabic | طورطور الباشا |
| Azerbaijani | böyük ərikgülü |
| Catalan | caputxina |
| Czech | lichořeřišnice větší |
| Welsh | capan cornicyll |
| Danish | indianerkarse |
| Danish | landløber |
| Danish | blomsterkarse |
| Danish | tropæolum majus |
| Danish | almindelig blomsterkarse |
| Danish | tallerkensmækker |
| German | große kapuzinerkresse |
| German | grosse kapuzinerkresse |
| German | kapuzinerli |
| Estonian | suur mungalill |
| Estonian | mungalill |
| Persian | گل لادن |
| Finnish | koristekrassi |
| Finnish | köynnöskrassi |
| Finnish | isoköynnöskrassi |
| French | grande capucine |
| Hebrew | כובע הנזיר |
| Hebrew | כובע נזיר |
| Hebrew | חונק הדוב |
| Croatian | dragoljub |
| Upper Sorbian | turkowska kraska |
| Hungarian | kerti sarkantyúka |
| Armenian | Հնդկոտեմ բարձր |
| io | kapuchino |
| Italian | nasturzio |
| Japanese | キンレンカ |
| Japanese | ナスタチウム |
| Japanese | ノウゼンハレン |
| Korean | 금련화 |
| Korean | 한련화 |
| Korean | 한련 |
| Lithuanian | didžioji nasturtė |
| Macedonian | Латинче (растение) |
| Macedonian | Лазибубе |
| nah | pelōn mexixquilitl |
| Norwegian Bokmål | indianerkarse |
| Norwegian Bokmål | blomsterkarse |
| Norwegian Bokmål | tropoælum |
| Norwegian Bokmål | vanlig blomkarse |
| Dutch | oost-indische kers |
| Dutch | oostindische kers |
| Dutch | oost indische kers |
| Polish | nasturcja niska |
| Polish | nasturcja większa |
| Portuguese | cinco chagas |
| Portuguese | cinco-chagas |
| Portuguese | capuchinha |
| Russian | Настурция большая |
| Russian | Капуцин большой |
| Russian | Настурция майская |
| Slovak | kapucínka väčšia |
| Slovenian | velika kapucinka |
| Slovenian | kapucinčki |
| Slovenian | kapucinka |
| Serbian | Драгољуб |
| stq | häkkebloume |
| Swedish | buskkrasse |
| Swedish | slingerkrasse |
| Swedish | indiankrasse |
| Turkish | latin Çiçeği |
| Ukrainian | Красоля велика |
| Chinese | 旱金蓮 |
| Chinese | 荷叶七 |
| Chinese | 金蓮花 |
| Chinese | 旱金莲 |
| Chinese | 旱莲花 |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!| Sow seeds at 20°C, expecting germination within 3 months without further temperature treatment. |
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
- Cape Verde
- Madeira
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Middle Atlantic Ocean
- Ascension
- Saint Helena
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Northeast Tropical Africa
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
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Northern Africa
- Algeria
- Morocco
- Tunisia
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South Tropical Africa
- Angola
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Southern Africa
- Free State
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West-central Tropical Africa
- Cameroon
- Rwanda
- Zaïre
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Western Indian Ocean
- Mauritius
- Réunion
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Macaronesia
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Antarctica click to expand
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Subantarctic Islands
- Amsterdam-St.Paul Islands
- Tristan Da Cunha
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Subantarctic Islands
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Asia-temperate click to expand
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Arabian Peninsula
- Gulf States
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China
- China South-central
- Tibet
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Eastern Asia
- Korea
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Western Asia
- East Aegean Islands
- Lebanon-Syria
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Arabian Peninsula
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Asia-tropical click to expand
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Indian Subcontinent
- Assam
- Bangladesh
- East Himalaya
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Indo-China
- Vietnam
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Indian Subcontinent
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Australasia click to expand
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Australia
- Norfolk Island
- Tasmania
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New Zealand
- New Zealand North
- New Zealand South
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Australia
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Europe click to expand
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Eastern Europe
- Central European Russia
- North European Russia
- South European Russia
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Middle Europe
- Belgium
- Czechoslovakia
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Northern Europe
- Great Britain
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Southeastern Europe
- Albania
- Bulgaria
- Greece
- Kriti
- Romania
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Southwestern Europe
- Baleares
- France
- Spain
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Eastern Europe
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Northern America click to expand
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Mexico
- Mexico Central
- Mexico Northwest
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Northeastern U.S.A.
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- New York
- Pennsylvania
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Northwestern U.S.A.
- Oregon
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Southwestern U.S.A.
- California
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Mexico
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Pacific click to expand
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North-central Pacific
- Hawaii
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North-central Pacific
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Southern America click to expand
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Brazil
- Brazil South
- Brazil Southeast
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Caribbean
- Bermuda
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- Haiti
- Jamaica
- Puerto Rico
- Trinidad-Tobago
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Central America
- Costa Rica
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
- Honduras
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Southern South America
- Argentina Northeast
- Chile Central
- Juan Fernández Islands
- Uruguay
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Western South America
- Bolivia
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Peru
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Brazil
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000459744 |
| UNII | 9G6ZOS4L87 |
| USDA Plants | TRMA7 |
| Tropicos | 33000034 |
| INPN | 127885 |
| Flora of Italy | 2853 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:310974-2 |
| The Plant List | kew-2522052 |
| Plantarium | 39498 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 948930 |
| Observations.org | 133247 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 4020 |
| NBN Atlas | NBNSYS0000034299 |
| Nature Serve | 2.139255 |
| IPNI | 310974-2 |
| iNaturalist | 54329 |
| GBIF | 2889934 |
| Freebase | /m/026zxjc |
| EPPO | TOPMA |
| EOL | 484394 |
| Elurikkus | 8035 |
| Calflora (Californian flora) | 8167 |
| USDA GRIN | 40686 |
| Wikipedia | Tropaeolum_majus |
| CMAUP | NPO10300 |
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!
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.
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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Alkaloids and derivatives / Vobasan alkaloids | |||||
| methyl (15S)-15-ethyl-12-[16-ethyl-8-methoxy-18-(2-methoxy-2-oxoethyl)-2,12-diazapentacyclo[15.1.1.02,15.05,13.06,11]nonadeca-5(13),6,8,10-tetraen-9-yl]-17-methyl-10,17-diazatetracyclo[12.3.1.03,11.04,9]octadeca-3(11),4,6,8-tetraene-18-carboxylate | 5317192 | Click to see | 720.90 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives | |||||
| Benzyl Isothiocyanate | 2346 | Click to see C1=CC=C(C=C1)CN=C=S | 149.21 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ARDP.18992370206 https://doi.org/10.1002/ARDP.18992370609 |
| Phenylacetic Acid | 999 | Click to see C1=CC=C(C=C1)CC(=O)O | 136.15 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1034/J.1399-3054.2002.1150220.X |
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzyl thiocyanates | |||||
| Benzyl Thiocyanate | 18170 | Click to see C1=CC=C(C=C1)CSC#N | 149.21 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty acids and conjugates / Very long-chain fatty acids | |||||
| Erucic Acid | 5281116 | Click to see | 338.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Tetraterpenoids / Carotenoids / Carotenes | |||||
| epsilon,psi-Carotene, (6R)- | 5281230 | Click to see | 536.90 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Tetraterpenoids / Carotenoids / Xanthophylls | |||||
| (1S,3R,6R)-6-[(1E,3E,5E,7E,9E,11E,13E,15E,17E)-18-[(4R)-4-hydroxy-2,6,6-trimethylcyclohexen-1-yl]-3,7,12,16-tetramethyloctadeca-1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15,17-nonaenyl]-1,5,5-trimethyl-7-oxabicyclo[4.1.0]heptan-3-ol | 45109816 | Click to see CC1=C(C(CC(C1)O)(C)C)C=CC(=CC=CC(=CC=CC=C(C)C=CC=C(C)C=CC23C(CC(CC2(O3)C)O)(C)C)C)C | 584.90 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Alcohols and polyols / Cyclitols and derivatives / Quinic acids and derivatives | |||||
| 3-{[3-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoyl]oxy}-1,4,5-trihydroxycyclohexane-1-carboxylic acid | 348159 | Click to see C1C(C(C(CC1(C(=O)O)O)OC(=O)C=CC2=CC(=C(C=C2)O)O)O)O | 354.31 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02035155 |
| Chlorogenic Acid | 1794427 | Click to see C1C(C(C(CC1(C(=O)O)O)OC(=O)C=CC2=CC(=C(C=C2)O)O)O)O | 354.31 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02035155 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Glucosinolates / Alkylglucosinolates | |||||
| [(E)-[2-phenyl-1-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]sulfanylethylidene]amino] sulfate | 9548604 | Click to see | 408.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| [3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl] 2-phenyl-N-sulfooxyethanimidothioate | 437038 | Click to see | 409.40 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5021297/ |
| {[(E)-(2-phenyl-1-{[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]sulfanyl}ethylidene)amino]oxy}sulfonic acid | 9573945 | Click to see C1=CC=C(C=C1)CC(=NOS(=O)(=O)O)SC2C(C(C(C(O2)CO)O)O)O | 409.40 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC157901/ |
| Glucotropaeolin | 9548605 | Click to see C1=CC=C(C=C1)CC(=NOS(=O)(=O)O)SC2C(C(C(C(O2)CO)O)O)O | 409.40 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5021297/ |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Sugar acids and derivatives / Glucuronic acid derivatives | |||||
| (2R,3R,4S,5R,6S)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydroxyoxane-2-carboxylic acid | 11869377 | Click to see C1(C(C(OC(C1O)O)C(=O)O)O)O | 194.14 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Indoles and derivatives / Indoles / 3-alkylindoles | |||||
| Indole-3-Butyric Acid | 8617 | Click to see | 203.24 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1034/J.1399-3054.2002.1150220.X |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Indoles and derivatives / Indolyl carboxylic acids and derivatives / Indole-3-acetic acid derivatives | |||||
| Indole-3-acetic acid | 802 | Click to see C1=CC=C2C(=C1)C(=CN2)CC(=O)O | 175.18 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1034/J.1399-3054.2002.1150220.X |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Furanocoumarins / Psoralens / 5-methoxypsoralens | |||||
| 9-[(Z)-4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enoxy]-4-methoxyfuro[3,2-g]chromen-7-one | 102465417 | Click to see | 316.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Anthocyanins / Anthocyanidin-3-O-glycosides | |||||
| 2-[2-[5,7-Dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)chromenylium-3-yl]oxy-4,5-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-3-yl]oxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-3,4,5-triol | 74089795 | Click to see | 595.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF0614140 |
| Pelargonidin 3-O-sophoroside | 23724704 | Click to see | 595.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF0614140 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides | |||||
| 2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-Dihydroxy-3-((2S,3R,4S,5R,6R)-3,4,5-Trihydroxy-6-(Hydroxymethyl)Oxan-2-yl)Oxy-Chromen-4-one | 12304323 | Click to see | 464.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Astragalin | 5282102 | Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O | 448.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Kaempferol-3-O-Rutinoside | 5318767 | Click to see | 594.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Rutin | 5280805 | Click to see | 610.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 6-O-methylated flavonoids | |||||
| 2-(3,4-Dimethoxyphenyl)-5,6-dimethoxy-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one | 14055876 | Click to see | 342.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 5,6,2',3',4'-Pentamethoxyflavone | 14055877 | Click to see COC1=C(C(=C(C=C1)C2=CC(=O)C3=C(O2)C=CC(=C3OC)OC)OC)OC | 372.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 5,6,2',3',5',6'-Hexamethoxyflavone | 21580515 | Click to see | 402.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 5,6,2',3',6'-Pentamethoxyflavone | 21580516 | Click to see | 372.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Cerosilin B | 44257603 | Click to see | 372.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Cerrosillin | 44257600 | Click to see | 342.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |